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ANSICTA to Hold Maiden Anambra Innovation Stakeholders Summit on July 28
All is now set for the maiden edition of the Anambra Innovation Stakeholders Summit 2021 being organised by Anambra State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ANSICTA).
The summit scheduled to hold virtually on Wednesday July 28, 2021, with the theme “Incubating A Digital Revolution,” would rally discussions on the resilience and creativity needed to drive development, innovation and technological advancement of Anambra especially in a time of the COVID-19 crisis.
It will offer Anambrians an opportunity to reflect on skills, ideas, finances, commitments and policies needed today and for the future.
Speaking about the summit,Mr. Mike Orekyeh, Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Information Communication Technology (ICT), said that the thrust of the summit would provide solid basis that will fuel the adoption of STEM and digital skills training in schools and markets in Anambra State.
He noted that Anambra which has the highest literacy rates in Nigeria should lead the conversation in tech innovation ecosystem, instead of joining the bandwagon.
According to him, “The growth of the technology and innovation sector offers new possibilities for Anambra’s growing labor force, in terms of competing and surviving the new industrial revolution, creating employment and building entrepreneurship.
“Nigeria’s innovation space has found creative solutions and is growing as more technology hubs are being established in the country, pushing Nigeria towards a knowledge based economy.
“Anambra is positioned to not just join the conversation but to lead it.
“As the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo noted: ‘…The future of Nigeria is not oil or solid minerals, but about technology, innovation. Tech innovation is all about highly-skilled people, entrepreneurship spirit and a supporting ecosystem of government, investors, mentors and global collaboration.’
“We believe that Anambra state being the heart and gateway of the southeast including already being a trade/business destination can simultaneously take the lead in the digital innovation birthing in Nigeria generally and the southeast specifically to pave the way for a new breed of techpreneurs and innovators in building “Onitsha / Awka/ Nnewi” – our own standard of the silicon valley but we can call ours the Anambra Innovation Corridor”.
He further explained that Onitsha & Nnewi being the two most important commercial and industrial cities in Nigeria need a strategic move to bring the industries and markets online, which he said would have an enormous economic impact in Nigeria.
He said, “our vsion in ANSICTA is to bring our major towns and cities online, provide enabling digital infrastructure to connect schools, hospitals, businesses and governance online for a seamless step into the future.
“This approach and also bringing the many markets online and enabling them to digitize their markets and become discoverable have enormous potential to drive economic growth and activity.
Mr. Orekyeh emphasised that ANSICTA intends to train 40,000 people in 2 years and scale it up to 100,000persons in 4 years time.
The Objectives of the summit according to Mr. Orekyeh are:
-Raise awareness on the importance of ensuring strategic investments in innovation and technology in Nigeria generally and Southeast/Anambra specifically.
-Highlight practical global best practices and lessons learned that can be replicated in Anambra towards reimagining innovation, growth, scalability and profitability in addressing present and future prospects.
– Discuss practical ways in which investors, donors, venture capitalists and the private sector can collaborate with government and civil society organizations to enable necessary investments needed accelerate growth.
-Identify policies approaches to support the growth of startup ecosystems and networksin Anambra
-Reimagining and reinventing educational approaches to reposition Anambra as a technological innovation destination of the future.
He added that participants will learn how private and public stakeholders can replicate growth models and invest in innovative ideas from Anambra focusing mainly on digital technology, scalable initiatives and creativity.
The summit will include keynote addresses and 5 panel sessions by select experts and key leaders.
For more information, please contact Mike Orekyeh at mike.orekyeh@anambrastate.gov.ng
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has warned local investors and foreign businesses about the activities of fraudsters falsely claiming to represent the company.
The state-owned company said the impostors are reportedly soliciting illegal fees under the guise of arranging meetings with the new NNPC board members, executives, and management.
The disclaimer comes following the change of the NNPCL board.
On April 2, 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed a new 11-member board with Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kidano as executive chairman.
In a statement signed on Monday by Olufemi Soneye, chief corporate communications officer, NNPC, t said the practice of soliciting fees is completely unauthorised and unlawful.
NNPCL said, “The general public is advised to beware of individuals and companies falsely claiming to represent NNPC Limited.
” Their tactics include soliciting fees for meetings with the NNPC board of directors, executives, and management staff. These actions are unauthorised and illegal.
“Foreign investors and international business entities are especially urged to remain cautious. If approached, report the incident to the appropriate authorities immediately.”
The company clarified that engagements with its boards or executives must follow official channels in line with company policy.
The oil giant said, “All legitimate engagements with NNPC Limited occur strictly through official channels or business units only.
“For further enquiries, please contact us at contactus@nnpcgroup.com.
“NNPC Limited remains committed to transparency, integrity, and the protection of our stakeholders in all interactions.”
The company called for public cooperation to prevent scammers from defrauding investors.
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has announced that plans to support the country’s farmers with its AgriConnect initiative have kicked off with a pilot scheme launched in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,
Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, minister, communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, last week launched the initiative at the Ogum State Cultural Centre Complex. AgriConnect is described as a transformative programme designed to digitally empower Nigerian farmers through real-time access to agronomic services, weather insights, financial tools and market intelligence.
The pilot scheme is being implemented in partnership with technology vendor Huawei Technologies and operator MTN Nigeria.
AgriConnect will initially benefit over 1,000 farmers, selected from the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS), with over 160,000 registered farmers.
Each beneficiary will receive mobile-data-enabled smart devices, embedded with Huawei’s AI-powered tools and MTN-supported connectivity to enable smarter planting, better risk mitigation and streamlined communication with government data centres.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Tijani noted that AgriConnect highlighted the importance of food security. Referring to a target of cultivating 500,000 hectares of land, he pointed out that innovation would be an important part of the effort.
As the government builds out the framework from this pilot in Ogun State (a leader in cassava production), he said, it aims to scale the AgriConnect model across other states – “ensuring that every farmer, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to benefit from the digital economy”, as he put it.
The AgriConnect initiative reflects an FMCIDE commitment under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote rural inclusion and leverage Nigeria’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
By fusing AI, connectivity, and human-centred design, the ministry says that AgriConnect stands as a scalable model for advancing food security, driving innovation, and improving livelihoods for smallholder farmers across the country.
Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team following their remarkable achievement of being ranked 31st on the Financial Times’ prestigious 2025 list of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
This recognition by the Financial Times, in collaboration with global research firm Statista, highlights X3M Ideas’ outstanding performance and resilience in a highly competitive and challenging business landscape.
The agency’s ranking was determined based on its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2023, verified through independently certified financial data, underscoring the credibility and transparency of the accolade.
Founded by renowned advertising executive Steve Babaeko, X3M Ideas has consistently demonstrated innovation, operational excellence, and creative leadership. The agency’s bold campaigns and commitment to impactful storytelling have not only elevated its profile in Nigeria but have also established its presence across several African markets.
This milestone marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s creative sector, traditionally overshadowed by industries such as fintech and energy in continental rankings.
AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, in a statement, congratulated Babaeko and X3M Ideas on the remarkable recognition. He said: “Steve’s tenure as AAAN President was quite revolutionary. He raised the bar for our association and industry at large. His leadership brought bold ideas to life, executed with brilliance and a deep sense of purpose for the creative community.
“This global acknowledgment is a testament to his enduring impact, not just as a creative force but as a trailblazer on the African continent.”
The Financial Times’ 2025 list features 130 top-performing companies from across Africa, with Nigeria and South Africa accounting for a significant share, reflecting the economic strength and entrepreneurial spirit of the continent’s largest economies.
X3M Ideas’ recognition not only celebrates its own growth but also signals the rising influence of the creative economy in shaping Africa’s future.
This latest accolade adds to a string of recent achievements for X3M Ideas, including being named Independent Network of the Year at the 2025 Pitcher Awards, further cementing the agency’s status as a leader in African creativity and innovation.
AAAN commends Steve Babaeko and the entire X3M Ideas team for their outstanding contribution to the industry and for flying the flag of Nigerian creativity high on the global stage.
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