The Nigeria Innovation Summit [NIS] 2019 has continued to garner support and endorsements ahead of the August 20 and 21 event in Lagos, with the latest partnership coming from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); the country’s telecom regulator .
According to NCC, supporting NIS is in line with its commitment to promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities and facilitating strategic collaboration and partnerships to grow the economy.
NIS is another unique opportunity to bring together key players/actors in the Nigerian technology ecosystem to deliberate and suggest policy, framework/strategy that could further deepen the sectorial contribution to other industries.
The collaborative Summit is a unique annual event that focuses on the need for the country, businesses, organisations, entrepreneurs to become more innovative and use innovation to drive sustainable development.
The Summit, which is open to participation and sponsorship by Federal and State Government Agencies, indigenous and international organisations and individuals, helps Nigeria embrace innovation and move in the direction of digital transformation through the use of Emerging Technologies and Trends, Research, Development, Commercialization, Entrepreneurship and Investments as the key drivers of an innovation ecosystem.
This platform creates awareness on the need for Open Innovation in Nigeria, and challenges Nigeria to leverage innovation to become more competitive in the global economy.
The Summit holds Tuesday, August 20 and Wednesday August 21, 2019 at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja Lagos, Nigeria, starting 9am each day. Registration is already on via the event website.
NIS, now in the fourth year, is an initiative led by Emerging Media and Advertising Services, New York, and Emerging Media Nigeria with support from TechEconomy.ng.
Confirmed speakers for the event include Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Obinnia Abajue, CEO, Hygeia HMO; Bruno Woeran, European Union Affairs Manager, Merinova Technology Centre (Finland); Tosin Faniro-Dada, Head, Startups (Lagos Innovates), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund; Prof Nii Quaynor, Africa Internet Pioneer.
Chairman, Ghana Dot Com; Adesola Alli, Head, Renewable Energy, Strategy and Innovation at Sterling Bank Plc., Prof Wellington Oyibo
Director,Research and Innovation office, University of Lagos, amongst others.
Also, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Lagos State University (LASU), Landmark University, Mountain Top University, Igbinedion University, University of Port Harcourt, have all confirmed attendance with Bauchi, Kano, Edo and Ondo States indicated interest to participate aside other corporate organisations.
“We encourage world’s leading innovation providers from academic community, government and industry to partner with us in order to connect Nigerian businesses and innovators to global innovation ecosystems.
“We feel elated by NCC’s visionary approach in terms of supporting innovation in the country. Just recently, the Commission doled out millions of Nairs to support Universities to conduct R&D. this is what the country needs, especially to lift the economy from the quagmires of yesteryears.
Recall that Nigeria is placed 114th out of 129th in the recent Global Innovation Index. This is not acceptable. So, we call on all stakeholders to emulate NCC’s gestures towards supporting innovation in the country,” said the lead convener and Founder of Emerging Media, Kenneth Omeruo.
The key features of the Nigeria Innovation Summit are the Keynote Presentations and Panel Discussions from Industry/Business Leaders, Government, Investors, International Organisations, Top Entrepreneurs, CEOs and Innovation Managers across the world and across the focus sectors.
The Summit Focus for 2019:
Discussions at the Summit will drive attention to build an Innovation Ecosystem in Nigeria and connect with global innovation opportunities around the world and Exploring Open Innovation in Nigeria such as Innovation in Manufacturing Industry; Innovation through Emerging Technology Trends like Big Data and Data Centers, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things and Wearable Technologies.
Others are Innovation in Power and Energy, Agriculture, Banking, Finance and Investment, Oil and Gas, Education and Entrepreneurship, Health, Media and Entertainment, Women Technology and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria and Youths Technology and Entrepreneurship Development.
Similarly, the Nigeria Innovation Awards is another feature of the Summit, which recognizes and promotes States, Ministries, Companies, Organisations, Institutions, and Innovators that have embraced innovation to move Nigeria forward.
“Great Innovations come out of great Innovation Ecosystems. An innovation Ecosystem is made up of the Government/Public Sector participation, Businesses/Private and Industry participation, the academic/Research and development institutions, Entrepreneurs/Innovators and Startups.
“Each plays key roles and working together towards the goal of innovation and technology development in Nigeria. This is what Nigeria Innovation Summit is fostering.
“This year leading local and international organisations, government agencies, businesses will host workshops to educate, inform and empower Nigerians”, said Mr. Tony Ajah, the National Coordinator of NIS, explained.