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.
The Coordinator SE Regional Town Hall of NSB, Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Orekyeh disclosed these to ITREALMS at the weekend, saying that the meetings were also organized across the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country.

Orekyeh said the objective was to engage stakeholders in the public and private sectors for their understanding, inputs, comments and suggestions towards the production of rich and all-encompassing law and policy to cover the business and activities of startups.

He told ITREALMS after the recent SE meetings at Sam’s Hall, Amaedo Events Center by Oakland’s Hotel, Enugu, that the event brought together the technology ecosystem of various states and allowed them engage in the process of development of this bill which is of key importance to the development of technology innovation and enterprises nationwide.

“We hope will be passed by the National Assembly in the coming months,” he declared.

Orekyeh who doubles as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Anambra ICT Agency (ANSICTA) affirmed to ITREALMS that the National President, Institute of Software Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) and NSB Advisory Council Member, Mr. Chineye Mba-Uzoukwu, gave the keynote address which dwelt on “definition, evolution and present form of Startups and how they are the successful model for giving birth to technology based enterprises in many countries of the world.”

some participants @SE townhall meeting

ISPON president also said that the phenomenon had gained momentum in Nigeria and attracted large amounts of investment capital in dollars but this was mostly centered around Lagos.

He stressed the need to guide and develop the startup sector across Nigeria and avail the length and breadth of the country engage in developing technology based enterprises that could work to global standards.

In additional, ITREALMS gathered that a moderated panel was held where Startups from the technology ecosystem representative of all the States of the South East discussed their formation, operation, successes and challenges.

He emphasized that one of the key drivers of the NSB and Executive Secretary of ISN Hubs, Nneka Ukay, gave hope NSB would achieve is mandate, noting that how participation of the various stakeholders and their thoughts were important to the drafting of the law and surrounding policies.

Remmy Nweke/DoP