26th July, 2018
Edo Innovation Hub says it has trained no fewer than 724 entrepreneurs in less than three months of its operation to boost private sector activities in the state.
The outfit, supported by the state-government, is a cluster for innovators and inventors in Benin City.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki, at the launch of the hub in June, said that the state government set up the outfit to enable youths to strengthen the technology ecosystem in the state, adding that the intention was to leverage on technology for job creation and enterprise development.
In a statement on Thursday, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, said that the centre had in the last few weeks trained 724 entrepreneurs.
“Two hundred females are being trained by Microsoft and Tech4Dev; 32 persons participated in LinkedIn MeetUp sessions to build a vibrant business community and leverage networking for local and international businesses.
“Forty-nine budding app developers participated in Curators University’s Artificial Intelligence boot camp; 23 developers were trained by Hotels.NG on coding and app development.
“Other partners include Makers Academy, who trained 40 students on robotics and 59 trained by Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre in entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Siemens, Impact Hub conducted pre-hackathon orientation for 25 aspiring entrepreneurs in the power sector while Microsoft took 50 teachers on Basic Digital Literacy for Teachers.”
Dare said that there was a sustainability plan in place to ensure that the private sector took the lead in the growth of the state’s technology ecosystem, adding that trainings and business incubation would continue at the facility.
She added that ATC Nigeria donated three fully equipped ICT centre in Benin, Irrua and Ekpoma, to deepen the penetration of tech-driven development across the state.
She explained that a good number of the firms at the hub had expressed interest for long-term partnership with the state government.
According to her, the state government is exploring the option of a trust fund to sustain the hub.
Drae said the facility houses the South-South Innovation Hub with two halls, five training rooms, six fully-furnished co-working spaces, four rooms with a total of 100 computers, offices, conference rooms and outdoor workspaces, among others.