By Chinwendu Obienyi
To redefine the landscape of creativity, technology, innovation and boost Nigeria’s creative sector, Global Tech Africa (GTA) and Africa Creative Market (ACM) recently announced their strategic alliance with eminent organisations: the Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe (HOW) Foundation, Wigwe University, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Ascend Studios Foundation, and Future Map Africa.
With the highly anticipated Africa Creative Market (ACM) scheduled to take place from November 2nd to 7th, 2023, and the innovative Global Tech Africa (GTA) Conference set for November 16th to 19th, 2023, both at 21st Century Technologies, Lagos, Nigeria, this collaboration signifies an exciting convergence of industry stakeholders. Together, the firms embark on a journey that transcends boundaries, cultivating a new era of creativity, technology advancement, and collaborative progress.
By harnessing the power of technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship, GTA and ACM aim to revolutionize the tech and creative ecosystems in Africa, unlocking boundless opportunities for growth, investment, and market access.
Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Founder of HOW Foundation and Wigwe University, outlined his vision during a press conference, underscoring the training of 30,000 individuals in animation, robotics, and related fields over three years in collaboration with GTA.
He noted that the pivotal role of technology education, especially for the talented young individuals within the nation’s creative sector is strong and added that the upcoming summit and technology conference, in collaboration with NITDA and Ascend Studios, will serve as catalysts for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and best practices.
According to him, “the summit will propel the creative industry within Nigeria and resonate across the entire continent.”
Sharing NITDA’s ambitious plans, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA, stated that the agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication will train 3 million Nigerians across 36 states in the next four years which will focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and local investments.
‘‘GTA, as a platform, aligns with NITDA’s goals by promoting trade acceleration, networking opportunities, and international visibility. This collaboration aims to harness talent for economic impact, foster innovation, create jobs, and export technology abroad,’’ he said.
For her part, Dr. Inya Lawal, the founder of Ascend Studios Foundation and GTA’s implementation partner, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration, highlighting the revolutionary impact of the partnership.
She stated, ‘‘The involvement of academia, government, and development sectors signifies a transformative initiative. With the Ascend Studios Foundation also on board, the collaboration ensures comprehensive support, driving positive changes in Nigeria’s creative and technology ecosystem.’’
This collaborative effort represents a significant step forward in reshaping Nigeria’s creative and technology landscape. Global Tech Africa (GTA) and Africa Creative Market (ACM), along with their esteemed partners, are dedicated to building a thriving ecosystem, driving economic growth, and fostering innovation across Africa.