Anambra State has injected N80 million into 80 startup businesses. This marks a major push to grow the state's tech sector.
The funding came during a ceremony held in Awka on Friday. Solution Innovation District, a state agency, coordinated the disbursement and graduation event.
Each of the 80 startups received N1 million after completing a 12-week incubation programme. The training covered business development, customer acquisition, financial planning and investor readiness.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo attended the occasion and spoke to the beneficiaries. He described the investment as part of a larger plan to diversify Anambra's economy.
Soludo noted that his administration runs two major programmes to achieve this goal. The Anambra Startup Incubation Programme and the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe initiative both prepare residents for the global digital economy.
He challenged the startup founders to build sustainable businesses. These enterprises, he said, must create jobs and draw investment to the state.
"Our administration is committed to transforming Anambra into Africa's Silicon Valley," Soludo stated. "This vision is driven not by politics but by a clear and strategic imperative to secure the future of our state and its people."
Chinwe Okoli runs Solution Innovation District as Chief Executive Officer. She explained that the startup fund targets innovation-driven businesses with genuine growth prospects.
Enligt Okoli, more than 111 startups have already benefited from the district's various programmes. She added that the digital skills initiative has reached approximately 264,000 people so far.
By 2030, the state wants to train one million residents in digital skills. That's the goal of the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe programme.
Beyond startup funding, Friday's event celebrated graduates from other tech training initiatives. A robotics training programme produced 300 graduates in partnership with Circum Technologies.
Participants learned embedded systems, automation and sensor programming during the three months. These skills equip them for jobs in advanced manufacturing and industrial automation.
Another 100 people graduated from an Internet Service Provider Network Engineering Programme. Connekt Broadband delivered this three-month course in collaboration with the state.
Trainees gained hands-on experience in broadband deployment and fibre optic installation. They also studied wireless networking and internet service operations.
In total, 400 technology professionals graduated across all programmes on Friday. This brings the number of skilled professionals entering Anambra's labour market significantly higher.