Nigeria Innovation Summit Emphasises the Need for Nigeria to Invest in Research to Drive Technology and Innovation
The maiden edition of the Nigeria Innovation Summit with the Theme: ‘Innovation – A Key Driver of Economic Growth and Sustainable Development’, organized by Emerging Media, concluded successfully with the participation of more than 300 delegates with Diplomats, government representatives, academia, business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, students and journalists from within and outside Nigeria in attendance.The 2 day event was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on 3rd-4th November, 2016.
High points of the summit include the Keynote Sessions, Panel Discussions/ Interactive Sessions which focused on: Innovation – A Key Driver of Economic Growth and Sustainable Development; Innovations in Healthcare Industry; Educational Institutions, a Strategic Platform to Driving Innovation; Agricultural Innovations; and Supporting Start-ups, Innovators and Entrepreneurs in Nigeria. There were also Networking Session, Start-ups and Innovative Business Presentations and the Nigeria Innovation Awards.
The overall objective of the Summit was to create awareness and provide a strong platform that will start practical connections with projects that will drive and build a vibrant innovation centred ecosystem in Nigeria.
To lead the discussions and the discourse were notable national and international speakers and panellists, which include: Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, EVC/CEO Nigerian Communications Commission represented by Tony Ojobo, Sir Bright Ekweremadu, Managing Director, Society for Family Health, Yves Nicolet, Consul General of Switzerland in Nigeria, Prof Wellington Oyibo, Director Research and Innovation Centre, University of Lagos, Dr Daniel Folukoya, CEO & Founder of OneDokita Healthcare Limited, Dr Tunde Adekola, a senior education specialist at World Bank, Dr Bayero Agabi, President Transatlantic Media Company/producers of AIT Infoteh Network, and Dr Bongo Adi of Lagos Business School.
Other speakers include: Dr Oyedokun Oyewole, President/Chairman Governing Council, Institute of Information Management (IIM) – Africa, Hemant Nitturkar (RTB-CIP), BASICS Project Coordinator, CGIAR Research Program (RTB) IITA, Lexi Novitske, Investment Of?cer Singularity Investments, Tunde Akinnuwa, MD of Seedstars Capital Nigeria, Vaishali Nitturkar, Founder, The Gyan Tree, and Dr Mohammed Ndaliman Abubakar, Founder/CEO of Dalconsults.
The Innovation Summit and the call embrace innovation in all sectors of Nigeria’s economy came at the right time with growing need for the nation to diversify her economy outside the failing oil industry by using technological innovations to build a sustainable digital economy.
The organisers decided and wish to communicate to the stakeholders and general public as follows:
*There is urgent need for Nigeria to invest in innovation, research and technology development, in order to become an innovation-compliant nation and hence, improve in the Global Innovation Index ranking,attract foreign investments and boost the economy. It was revealed that in 2016 Global Innovation Index, Nigeria was ranked 114 out of 128 countries.
*Globally, Research & Innovation are powerful tools and also critical for national development. Therefore, we must take sciences to the industry through innovative transnational research if we must develop Nigeria, as the economic growth escalated in Europe, North America, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and India all came through innovation.
*Challenges facing the growth of innovations in Nigeria such as poor funding of research and innovation, non-functional science and technology policy, poor infrastructure were identified.And the public and private sectors are encouraged to collaborate to solve these challenges through public-private partnerships.
*The Summit noted that education, research and innovation should be high on political agenda. It called on the government to set up ideal environment for innovation, sustainable innovation hubs that will create jobs for young men and women who will create Nigeria industries of tomorrow. It was noted that job creation, next-generational leadership development can only be intensified through innovation. As we have entered into the 4th Industrial Revolution, ICT as a sector can contribute immensely to the national GDP of Nigeria, and that ICT, acting as an enabler, can result in improved market competitiveness of a nation’s products and services.
*Our higher education lead in the drive for innovation if we develop a different kind of innovative-culture within our institutions. The Summit called for resolve to strengthening partnership collaboration and cooperation between all stakeholders, as there is unique opportunity for innovation, interconnectivity, invigoration and inclusiveness for quality and Science & Technology Education. It also encouraged strategic partnerships, collaboration within and between state and non-state actors including key stakeholders from across multiple and diverse sectors.
*The Summit organisers welcome collaborations with the government, corporate organizations, international organizations and the academic community towards promoting innovations in Nigeria.
The Summit organisers officially launched the African Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy (http://africaninnovation.academy/) and the Open Innovation Nigeria platform in collaboration with the Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, South Africa. The above platforms will connect the academia, the industry, government institutions, partnering organisations, researchers and innovators in Nigeria to other innovation ecosystems around the world.
The Summit ended on Day 2 with the announcement of the winners of 2016 Nigeria Innovation Awards, who were honored and presented with certificates awards.
Best Innovative Idea on E-Commerce went to Valentine Awe of Nigerianmadegoods.com; Best Innovative Invention went to Emeka Nelson Ugwueze for inventing PORTABLE HYDRO ELECTRIC GENERATOR; Best Innovative E-Service Platform went to Akinmade Akintoye of locationforms.net; Best Innovative Agricultural Mobile App went to Nwachinemere Emeka Obewe of KITOVU; Best Innovation in Healthcare went to Dr. Enokela Owoicho Moses of SonoCare. Other recipients include: Simon A. Olanipekun for Best Innovative Energy Invention by inventing Motive Power Generator; Alifa Ojonugwa Nicholas for Best Innovative Agricultural e-Platform (Ajaoko.com); Arc. Eno Dorothy Nyong of Harbinger Ltd for Best for Innovative Invention (Pedal Tap); KESANDU NWOKOLO of CHEF NIGERIA for Best Innovation in Healthcare App; Henry Obinugwu of VNTS Company Limited for Best Innovative IT Products (NetPremise). The Young Innovators Award went to PROJECT D0VE INITIATIVE for Designing & Building of Electric Vehicle – D0VE P1.
The Nigeria Innovation Summit 2016 was proudly sponsored by: Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Society for Family Health and Onedokita Healthcare Limited.
Issued by:
Kenneth Omeruo -Coordinator,Nigeria Innovation Summit
Tony Ajah Director, Nigeria Innovation Summit
For Nigeria Innovation Summit
