The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has announced its willingness to render necessary support to the Entrepreneurship Village (E-Village) project in Akure, Ondo State.
This Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with the stakeholders of the E-Village.
The minister, who acknowledged the pivotal role such an initiative like E-Village will play in driving innovation, job creation and economic growth, noted that the initiative aligns with the ministry’s vision for a tech-driven future.
He said: “The Entrepreneurship Village aligns with our vision for a tech-driven future, and I am excited to endorse and support this endeavor wholeheartedly. “
Nnaji added that the initiative represents a crucial step towards positioning Nigeria as a hub for technological innovation.
He noted that the ministry would not hesitate to make collaborative efforts and policy initiatives aimed at propelling the Entrepreneurship Village to greater heights.
Earlier, the President of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E.), Dr. Summy Smart Francis, who spoke on behalf of other stakeholders, explained that e-village was a social impact and legacy project that addresses the need that the African economy currently faces in the education, entrepreneurship and infrastructural sector.
He stressed that the entrepreneurial eco-system provided by e-village ensures that budding entrepreneurs are identified, trained, supported and produced to the economy to create jobs and to solve the many challenges currently experienced and yet to be experienced in the continent.
According to him, The E-Village is also targeted at entrepreneurship development with a focus on 40 percent women, 15 percent of persons living with disabilities, and 45 percent youth, in order to reduce inequality and create a sustainable economy.
Francis added that the E-Village would house institutions such as New York institute of Finance, London Academy Business School (LABS), Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK; and the School of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (SORAI).
He said it would house the Octagon Business Hub, Megamindz Creative Academy, Research Cube amongst other institutions that would enhance human capacity development.
The project is expected to bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), international institutions and multinational corporations into the same space, thereby creating an “explosive economic boom”.
