#StartupSouth today announced the commencement of the South-South and South-East Digital Economy Ecosystem & State of Jobs Survey project. The project will culminate into a South-South and South-East Startup Landscape & State of Digital Jobs Report. The Report seeks to propel the regional digital and innovation space, attract investors, talents and support by showcasing its current strength, gaps and opportunities. It will provide a comprehensive mapping, documentation and spotlight of key activities, innovators and stakeholders who are leveraging technology to create opportunities and solve diverse economic/development challenges for and from the region. Such key actors include Startups, financiers, events, support organizations (including Hubs, Universities, Enterprise Support Organizations -ESOs, Government Institutions etc) across eleven States in the regions
The Digital Ecosystem in the South-South/South-East of Nigeria has grown over the last Ten years as home to great Institutions and vibrant Technology communities (such as Google Developer Group, Meta Circle and others). It’s also home to several innovative early stage Startups (and Founders) including Xend Finance (Google backed DeFi platform), Greenage Technology (Nigeria’s foremost Solar OEM) and HouseAfrica (Sytemap) to mention a few. Despite the foregoing, very little is known about the Ecosystem from outside leading to fewer coverage and opportunities for its stakeholders.
#StartupSouth believes the Nigeria Innovation ecosystem is capable of more than it has achieved in recent years and is positioning South-South-East Nigeria to become the epicenter of future growth. This project represents a step in that direction. The report will also help States (and Cities) in the region identify and deploy their unique strengths for development. The states covered in the report include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states.
The project which enjoys technical support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Nigeria’s Innovation Center through the Accelerator Lab will publish its findingsduring a special #ScaleSouth Summit to be held in the second quarter of 2024.
“Through this collaborative effort, we aim to shine a spotlight on the immense potential of the South-South-East Startup ecosystem by identifying key stakeholders, mapping ecosystem activities, and highlighting opportunities and gaps. We seek to catalyze strategic interventions for sustainable development and job creation.” Uche Aniche, Convener of #StartupSouth
“At UNDP, we strongly believe that it is possible to catalyse inclusive growth in Nigeria and spark a development revolution through Regional Innovation. By providing technical support to this important work, we hope that the ecosystem gets re-energised to show-case its transformative impact and create opportunities for sustained collaboration and partnership with others.” William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of UNDP Office in Lagos.
“Highlighting the depth of the digital economy and startup ecosystem holds immense potential for equitable, accelerated and sustainable job creation in the South-South and South-East region. This timely intervention by #StartupSouth is a huge step in the right direction as it will spotlight opportunities, inspire collaborations, and catalyze strategic investments in the ecosystem. SSEAN is happy to support this project” Engr. Olushola Aina, Board Member at South-South-East Angel Network (SSEAN).
#StartupSouth is a leading Startup ecosystem development and advocacy organization inspiring founders building innovation driven ventures in Nigeria especially in the South-South-East regions.
About UNDP in Nigeria:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and shocks. In Nigeria, UNDP supports national efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through initiatives focusing on governance, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
