GBB partners NITDA to power Nigeria’s startups, scale digital inclusion - ITREALMS

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The nation’s foremost ICT infrastructure and shared services provider, Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), has unveiled a strategic partnership with the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), reports ITREALMS.

ONDI, is a key division of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and will collaborate with GBB to provide heavily subsidised, locally hosted sovereign cloud services to startups participating in the prestigious iHatch programme.

Qualcomm selects 10 deep-tech startups for 'Make in Africa' 2026 - ITREALMS Online

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Qualcomm Incorporated has officially set the stage for a new wave of industrial transformation across the continent with the selection of 10 high-impact startups for the fourth edition of the Qualcomm Make in Africa Mentorship Programme, reports ITREALMS.

As a standard prerequisite for Africa’s digital sovereignty, the initiative reinforces an irreducible commitment to empowering the deep-technology ecosystem through advanced connectivity and Edge AI integration.

Google, NCAIR launch ₦100m AI fund for startups - ITREALMS

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The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in partnership with Google, has launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fund, worth a ₦100 million in support of the Nigerian startups in developing innovative AI-driven solutions, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming amidst controversy that the AI fund with about two weeks application until September 25, is not encouraging to achieve the anticipated Nigerian government’s broader efforts to harness the potential of AI to drive development and innovation.

Qualcomm shortlists startups for Make in Africa 2024, awards 2023 Wireless fund - ITREALMS

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Qualcomm Incorporated has shortlisted startups for its Make in Africa 2024, as well as the winner of the 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund, reports ITREALMS.

The Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform, now in its second year, aims to work with and support the development of Africa's emerging technology ecosystem by providing mentorship, education, and training programs with a focus on 5G, Edge-AI/ML, Compute, and IoT. 

AI R&D: NITDA D-G pledges support to startups - ITREALMS

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The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), |Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has pledged the government's continued commitment to supporting starting startups in the country with necessary resources and initiatives in advancing the research of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country.

Inuwa made this known at the Innovate Nigeria 2024 Conference & Expo which was held at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos where he gave a thought-provoking keynote address on the role of government in advancing AI research and its implications for Nigeria’s economic future.

3 Nigerian startups emerge in top 10 @Qualcomm Make in Africa'23 - ITREALMS

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Three Nigerian startups have emerged in the top 10 participants in the first-ever Qualcomm Make in Africa (QMIA) mentorship programme, reports ITREALMS.

The trio include the Fixbot – Vehicle diagnostics and inspection via OBD dongle in Nigeria; Maotronics Systems Limited – IOT-enabled precision agriculture in Nigeria; and QuadLoop - Leveraging e-waste for solar e-Lanterns and battery storage in Nigeria.

WSES2023: Stakeholders warn startups on get rich quick syndrome - ITREALMS

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Pioneer and successful players in startup businesses have unanimously advised that success could only come in the way of upcoming entrepreneurs through passion and perseverance rather than the desire to get rich quick.

They gave the advice on Thursday at the breakout session on the WorldStage Economic Summit 2023 held at the event centre of the Nigerian Exchange, Lagos themed “The Game Changer.”

NCC, SystemSpecs, New Horizons CEOs to address startups at WorldStage Summit 2023 - ITREALMS

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All is set for the WorldStage Economic Summit (WES) 2023  on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at the Event Centre, Nigerian Exchange Limited, 2/4 Customs Street, Lagos as top information technology experts confirmed participation to address a special breakout session of the summit tagged Startups on WorldStage  with the Theme: ‘The Game Changers.’

According to a statement by World Stage Limited, the organizers of the summit, the new Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Aminu Maida as the Guest of Honour will present a key note address; Mr. Tim Akano, CEO, New Horizons Nigeria will present the theme paper The Game Changers; while Mr. John Tani Obaro, Group Managing Director (GMD), SystemSpecs Holdings, Nigeria will speak on ‘Startups journey from conception to launch’.

Sonuga Ibidapo to startups, climb ladder of success than jump - ITREALMS

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The Creative Director of Ibadan-based Green 'N' Things Events, Sonuga Ibidapo has advised startups in in decoration industry in this chat with ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO to climb the ladder of success than to jump.

Excerpts:

Your educational background?
I have a National Diploma (ND) in Geology from Ibadan Polytechnic and later, BSc in Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

Fondant guru, Abimbola advises startups to develop healthy competition - ITREALMS

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Fondant guru and Chief Executive Officer of BbRoyale Confectionery, Lagos, Abimbola Babalola, told ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO that baking industry begets lots of talents and full of creativity, advising startup to develop healthy competition.

Excerpts:

What prompts you into the cake industry?

My passion and love for edibles 'no be from here.'

AfriTECH 2.0: Agada underline factors against startups - ITREALMS

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The immediate past Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc and founder, Lxzdorelabs, an innovation hub and consultancy focused company, Mr. James Agada, has underlined some factors militating against startup and could lead to premature death, reports ITREALMS.

Agada, who spoke to the theme: Sustainability and the company of the future, at Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 2.0) held in Lagos on Wednesday, listed the factors to include non-reporting of sales figures, issues around corporate governance, Court or Government interference, and inability to create new business.

TechnologyMirror wins 'Best Startups Supportive Online Media Award' @ToT'22 - ITREALMS

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Leading technology and ICT news and information website, TechnologyMirror has won the Best Startups Supportive Online Media of the Year Award at the 18th edition of the Titans of Tech Awards.

TechnologyMirror emerged winner at the award ceremony attended by the former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission and Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Engr Ernest Ndukwe and the President of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Engr Ikechukwu Nnamani after evaluation by the Business Intelligence Unit of TechTV organisers of the Titans of Tech Awards.

Training, collaboration are key for startups in bakery industry says BobFoldollars boss - ITREALMS

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A certified baker based in Ikorodu-Lagos, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Adebimpe Obileye of BOBFOLDOLLARS CAKES 'N' EVENTS underscores training and collaboration as key for startups. She spoke to ITREALMS' GBEMI OMOTOSO.

Your Educational Background?

I attended Anglican primary school, Ogudu - Ojota,Lagos between 1981 to 1986, before, I proceeded to Ogudu Grammar School, Ojota, Lagos where I had my Junior classes. Then, Bariga Comprehensive High School, Ifako- Gbagada, Lagos from1990 to1992. However, I attended YWCA Vocational Institute, Moloney-Obalende, Lagos with a Certificate in Catering & Hotel management. Also, Diploma in Catering and Hotel management from Nigeria Opportunity Industrialization Centre (NOIC) Lagos1995-1996, among other certifications.

Chef @Crispy Ayoola: Some mentors are God-sent, advising startups never to give up - ITREALMS

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Top chef and baker at the Crispy Ayoola, Mr Olamilekan Adenuga has revealed how he learnt kitchen stuffs from his aunt, to ITREALMS’ GBEMI OMOTOSO, asserting that some mentors are God-sent and startups must never give up.

Excerpts:

Your educational background?
I attended Gifted Child Nursery and Primary School, Oworoshoki, Lagos; Lagos State Model College, Igbokuta, Lagos before getting the National Diploma (ND) in Business Administration from D.s(Dauda Soroye) Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic in Itori, Ewekoro,Ogun State.

Nigerian startups woo investors, eye $20,000 in Dubai - ITREALMS

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Out of over 500 applications submitted by Nigerian startups, 40 made the shortlist and four emerged winners at the just concluded GITEX Global Northstar Roadshow Startup Event which is aimed at giving opportunities to indigenous startups to pitch their products and services and stand a chance to win $20,000 at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirate this year.

The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will fully sponsor four startups out of the 10 that emerged tops to attend GITEX, which are the first and second place winners from Abuja and Lagos. While NITDA will sponsor the participation of the other six startups.

Flutterwave & Jumia: Red-flagging African tech startups in global market - ITREALMS

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The latest report of insider trading and other allegations of operational scandals at Flutterwave echoes similar unethical deals that haunted Jumia shortly after its listing at the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.

Flutterwave, founded in 2016 by Nigerians was registered in the United States (headquartered in San Francisco). Going by its roaring success a few years after it opened shop, raising $170 million from a group of international investors to expand its customer base, which pushed its valuation up to more than $1 billion, it has been fittingly described as Africa’s unicorn.

NSB drums support for startups, hosts townhall meeting @South East - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Startup Bill (NSB) has hosted its regional town hall meeting in the South-East (SE) to drum more support for the eco system, reports ITREALMS.

echoes @NSB in South East

The townhall meeting, ITREALMS gathered, was part of the advocacy and national buy-in strategy for NSB; a national effort at development of law and policy to cover the technology sector, with full involvement of the Presidency and relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA) of the Federal Government.

Financial inclusion: Nigeria’s RecyclePoints in top 10 @MIT Legatum Center African Startups prize - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

RecyclePoints a Nigerian startup has emerged in the top 10 at the MIT Legatum Center and Mastercard Foundation finalists of the 2018 Zambezi Prize for Innovation in Financial Inclusion, reports ITRealms.

The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, announced the finalists of the 2018 edition of the Zambezi Prize.

ITRealms gathered that the Grand Prize Winner and  Runners-Up will be announced during the Open Mic Africa Summit in Nairobi on August 29th, 2018.

RecyclePoints  pride itself as a waste recycling and social benefit venture which commenced its beta edition in Lagos, operating an incentive-based scheme which collects recyclable materials from post consumers and in turn rewards them with “Points” which they could accumulate and use to redeem/shop for household items offered through our iRecycle store.

The prestigious competition, awarding a total of $200,000 in prizes, was established in 2015 to discover Africa’s most promising and innovative early-stage start-ups that promote and advance financial inclusion on the continent.

The selected companies are Apollo Agriculture (Kenya), Bidhaa Sasa (Kenya), FarmDrive (Kenya), Farmerline (Ghana), LanteOTC (South Africa)(https://LanteOTC.com/), MaTontine (Senegal) (ControlRisks.com), OZE (Ghana)(www.OZE.guru/), RecyclePoints (Nigeria), Tulaa (Kenya)( www.Tulaa.io), and Wala (South Africa) (https://getWala.com/).

“We are pleased to welcome the 2018 finalists into the MIT Zambezi family”, said Georgina Campbell Flatter, the Executive Director of the MIT Legatum Center. “They represent some of the world’s most innovative change agents.”

“The finalists demonstrated strong leadership and innovation in the way they are solving financial inclusion challenges”, said Ali Diallo, the Global Programs Manager of the MIT Legatum Center. “We also want to thank the hundreds of great startups that applied to this competition and shared with us their inspiring ventures, visions, and insights for advancing financial inclusion. We hope to keep them all engaged through our upcoming initiatives”.

The finalists will join leaders from the MIT and African tech ecosystems on August 28th and 29th at the 2018 MIT Open Mic Africa Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The two-day event will include a VIP reception followed by the award ceremony at Strathmore University where the Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $100,000. Two runners-up will each receive $30,000 while the seven remaining finalists will each receive $5,000 in cash prizes. Additionally, the Legatum Center will award $5,000 to an African entrepreneur who demonstrated great leadership qualities to unify Africa’s tech ecosystem. All finalists will participate in cohort-building and mentoring activities with MIT leaders and Zambezi alumni companies during the event.

The winners will be invited to attend the Zambezi boot camp during the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC) (www.MITInclusiveInnovation.com) gala on the MIT campus in Boston on November 5th-9th, 2018. They also will be fast-tracked to the IIC global grand prize with up to $1 million available in funding for the winner. The IIC event is part of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy(http://ide.mit.edu/) and, along with the MIT Legatum Center’s initiatives, exemplifies MIT’s global commitment to the future of work(https://goo.gl/t6QRFb).

Chuks Egbune/ED, ops

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CFAtech to host 3 industry heavyweights @Startups hangout

ITREALMS:

The CFAtech, a leading technology blog, would host three industry heavyweights to its monthly CFA's Startups Hangout, reports ITRealms.

The hangout, which is first this year, ITRealms gathered is in line with CFAtech's vision of providing mentorship, learning and growth to the teeming entrepreneurs and startups in Lagos and beyond.

This edition of CFA's Startup Hangout which holds on the 5th of May, 2018 at 53 Oladipo Bateye Street, GRA, Ikeja, would have in attendance three Industry heavyweights as speakers. 

Speaking ahead of the Hangout, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr. "CFA", Founder, www.cfatech.ng said the whole idea is to see the startup ecosystem develop despite the very challenging business environment.

"Frankly, these are indeed trying times to be an entrepreneur but, history has proven that in the face of great difficulties, focused and exceptional minds can go on to create life transforming solutions. 

A number of people not just in Nigeria, but across the world have proven that it is indeed to make something possible out of nothing through commitment. If you are a startup reading this post, it is important to note that this is certainly not the time to give up, rather this is the time to charge ahead on as long as you are not trying to flog a dead horse."

Explaining why startups and entrepreneurs should attend the Hangout, he said, CFA's Startups Hangout serves as a strategic avenue for startups to meet and learn from successful entrepreneurs, through divulging nuggets that will assist them to grow their various startups as well as network and synergize among one another.

Themed: "Building the Right Relationships and Partnerships." The three experienced speakers will focus on how entrepreneurs, startups and businesses can advance their enterprises.

The theme will explore the various methodologies and strategies that allow any business-person to collaborate effectively to achieve certain business objectives.

Nenye Dom/GEE

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Best entrepreneurs to join CeBIT 2016 - ITU

ITRealms:

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has said that the best startups using technology to help with the various issues confronting refugees will be invited to join partners from the German Government at CeBIT, March 14-18, 2016, ITRealms reports.

They will then work together and strengthen their concepts, building better and potentially entirely new startups as a community. The best ideas coming out of CeBIT will join us for ITU Telecom World 2016 in November 2016 to network, showcase and pitch their ideas, participate in workshops, win seed funding, and benefit from a year of ongoing mentorship, ITRealms reports.

According to a press release from the union, migration is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century. It comprises both the refugees who are forced to flee their home due to war or cultural or religious oppression and those who leave of their own volition because of economic or ecological reasons.

Each day, ITRealms informs, another 40,000 people around the world leave their home to search for peace and security. Refugees face a unique set of problems.

They need protection, education, food, water, shelter and long term solutions that reunite families, integrating them into new communities or return them safely home. ICTs can help with many of these issues, and should be a key element in improving their lives.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

 
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