Abia To Stimulate Innovations Through Digital Economy

Abia State is set for a digital economy aimed at stimulating innovations across every sector of the economy following the passage of the Start-up Bill by the Abia State House of Assembly.

The state commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, stated this while briefing the press in Umuahia, the state capital, on the outcome of this week’s executive committee meeting.

Kanu, who said the meeting was chaired by the state governor, Alex Otti, said the Bill is in line with the administration’s agenda to fast-track the development of the state.

”With the Law in place, certain steps will be taken to establish the State Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Board, and the subsequent launch of the Startup Portal,” he said.

He maintained that the development, which he described as strategic, “will no doubt create a more attractive and enabling environment for the start-ups.”

‎Kanu informed that the proposed upcoming Technology and Innovation Summit of the state had been fixed for between 10th and 12th December.

‎”The summit, which will hold at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, will involve activities surrounding the Law and the hosting of a start-up innovation challenge,” he said.‎

‎The commissioner added that the challenge will be open and not restricted to graduates of the state’s first TechRise programme.

‎”The challenge will use the new UNPD UNIPOD facility at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture during the challenge event,” he said.