By danivert

Copyright thesun

…wins global award in Beijing

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Anambra State Government said it’s working hard to position the state as a leading hub for innovation in Africa, following a series of impactful presentations, engagements and a prestigious award won at two major international forums in Beijing, China.

Chinwe Okoli, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, made the promise at the Triple Helix Association & CASSSP Innovation Summit, and the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) 42nd World Conference held in Beijing, China.

Okoli, in a statement, noted that engagements at the conference culminated in the Solution Innovation District (SID), the flagship project of the Soludo’s administration being named among the top three winners at the conference’s prestigious IASP Inspiring Solutions Awards 2025, indicating a definitive validation of the transformative model.

She explained that SID was designed to serve as the epicentre for technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and even beyond, and it is also expected to catalyze economic transformation through strategic partnerships, world-class infrastructure, and massive human capital development.

Meanwhile, at the Triple Helix Summit, Ms. Okoli’s presentation, “The Anambra Story: From Theory to Transformation,” detailed how Governor Soludo’s vision is being executed through the Triple Helix model, strategically aligning government, academia, and industry.

She showcased SID as a practical, homegrown application of global best practices, already delivering impressive expected outcomes.

Building on the momentum, the governor’s aide also delivered a presentation titled “Bridging Continents Through Innovation: SID and the Power of International Collaboration” where she detailed Soludo’s strategy of using the SID as a gateway for global partnerships, emphasizing that tackling Africa’s digital growth and youth unemployment requires cross-border cooperation.

She noted that the conference, at gala night, recognized the “Anambra Digital Tribe” and its ambitious goal to train one million youths, celebrating it as a “transformational, inspiring, and impactful blueprint for building a sustainable, homegrown innovation economy.

“The award was a powerful testament to Governor Soludo’s foresight and firm commitment. His strategic investments in technology infrastructure and youth empowerment have proven that emerging economies can not only participate in but excel on the global innovation stage.

“However, our message in Beijing was clear: Anambra is building global bridges for talent, technology, and capital, and this award confirms that the world is taking notice of what we are doing. Anambra is open for business and ripe for strategic investment.”

She stated that the back-to-back presentations in Beijing further highlighted key investor-friendly attributes of the Anambra ecosystem, driven by the governor’s policies.

“Anambra is the first subnational government in Nigeria to fully invest in a dedicated innovation district, turning the historic old government house into a 13.7-hectare hub- designed to have AI labs, robotics centers, office spaces, residences and advanced research facilities.

“The state has already secured collaborations with global giants like the UNDP, Meta, Microsoft, Connekt Broadband, Circum Technologies, etc, signposting opportunity for future partners Additionally, the one million ‘Anambra Digital Tribe’ initiative directly addresses the talent needs of the global digital economy, creating a deep pool of skilled developers, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs.

“With Africa’s digital economy projected to surge from $180bn to $712 bn by 2050, Anambra is positioning itself as a strategic gateway and a model for market growth. Anambra model is not just a local initiative but a globally relevant ecosystem.

“It affirms to every young innovator in Anambra that their ideas have global relevance and assures international investors that the state, under Governor Soludo’s leadership, is a credible and high-potential destination for partnership and growth,” she said.