Edo Innovation Hub Trains 724 Entrepreneurs
The recently launched Edo Innovation Hub, a cluster and tech learning environment for youths in South-South Nigeria, has informed that it has trained no less than 724 entrepreneurs in its first three months of operation to bring about an upheaval in the private sector activities in Edo State.
According to a report by Weetracker on the launch of this government-supported outfit in June, Governor Godwin Obaseki said that the state government set up this cluster for innovators and inventors in Benin to enable youths to strengthen the technology ecosystem in the state, adding that the intention is to leverage on technology for job creation and enterprise development.
In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skills Development, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, disclosed that the center had in the last few months passed 724 entrepreneurs through intensive training.
According to the statement, 200 females are being trained by Microsoft and Tech4Dev; 32 persons took part in LinkedIn MeetUp sessions to build vibrant businesses in the community and leverage networking for local and internal enterprises.
The information says that 49 app developers participated in Curators University’s Artificial Intelligence boot camp; 23 developers were trained by Hotel.ng on coding and app building.
Other partners include Makers Academy, who trained 40 students on robotics and 59 trained by Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Center in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Siemens, Impact Hub conducted pre-hackathon orientation for 25 aspiring entrepreneurs in the power sector while Microsoft tool 50 teachers on Basic Digital Literacy for Teachers, according to Ukinebo, who also disclosed that there was a sustainability plan in place to cement assurance that the private sector took the lead in the growth of Edo State’s technology ecosystem, adding that pieces of training and business incubation would continue at the facility.
She added that ATC Nigeria donated three fully equipped ICT center in Benin, Irrua, and Ekpoma in a bid to deepen the penetration of tech-driven development across Edo State. She explained that a substantial number of firms operating at Edo Innovation Hub have expressed interest for long-term collaborations with the state government and that the administration is exploring the option of a trust fund to sustain the hub.
Finally, Ukinebo said that the tech cluster houses the South-South Innovation Hub with two halls, five training rooms, six fully-furnished co-working spaces, four rooms with a total of 100 computers, offices, conference room and outdoor workspaces, among others.
