In the attempt to increase the number of technological startups in the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, in Ogun State and subsequently tap into the $34 billion innovation economy, the Ogun State government has entered into a strategic partnership with GetFundedAfrica.
Chief Press Secretary to the Ogun State governor, Kunle Somorin, disclosed this in a statement during a stakeholders meeting, held at Ogun TechHub, Kobape, Abeokuta.
Somorin revealed that the partnership is to give Ogun State the advantage to benefit from the huge venture capital flows.
The CPS noted that the partnership is in fulfilment of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s developmental initiatives, leveraging on technology and innovations to build Nigeria’s and Africa’s first Silicon Valley.
He explained that GetFundedAfrica is a pan-African venture service platform that has helped African startups, investors, corporate, government bodies to raise over $150 million in 2021.
Speaking at the parley, the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the governor, Dapo Okubadejo, said that the partnership was already yielding fruit as 20 startups are in the process of relocating to Ogun TechHub in Abeokuta, insisting that this would boost the socio-economic system of the state.
He said, “The first batch of 20 startups cut across Fintech, Agritech, Healthtech, Software Development, Training and Talent Recruitment from Nigeria, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Kenya and Germany.
“So, GetFundedAfrica will make available the fund raising, mentorship, among others, while Ogun State will support with visa, insurance, office spaces, utilities and more.”
Special Adviser to the governor on ICT, Dayo Abiodun, emphasized that the Ogun State government is focused on unlocking a $34 billion innovation economy and happy to partner with GetFundedAfrica to achieve the ICT objectives set up by Governor Abiodun.
He revealed that startups can apply to be considered to access funding in order to be incubated into the TechHub through https://forms.office.com/r/HXQ0vgQrdi.
Chief Commercial Officer of GetFundedAfrica, Tunji Oke, hinted that in the next 36 months, no fewer than 400 startups from across Africa would be brought to the state towards unlocking billions of dollars in the innovation economy.
