African Development Bank to support BUK’s entrepreneurship programs

By Muhammed Yakubu On Aug 19, 2021

African Development Bank Boss, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Nigeria Innovation Programme (NIP) is set to support programs on innovation and entrepreneurship in Bayero University, Kano.

Solacebase reports that the partnership is an unprecedented attempt anchored under the office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to promote creativity and technology sectors in the country, with the aim to boost the sectors with financing and investment set by the AfDB.

The Chief Development Economist of the African Development Bank, Mrs Rosemand Offei-Awuku, who announced this during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas on Monday, said the programme has the prospect of harnessing potentials in Nigeria’s creative and technology industries,”

According to her, the programme that is part of the sustainability agenda will close the gaps that exist in the technology and creative industries in the country.

‘’It will also seek to boost innovation and job creation, and foster growth in the technology and creativity entrepreneurship ecosystem, ‘’Mrs. Rosemand said.

She explained that the programme would focus on four development pillars namely: Human capital, Financing, Infrastructure and Enabling environment. She added that it involved four ministries of Finance, Industry Trade and Investment, Information and Culture, Communications and Digital Economy.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas who was delighted with the collaboration, said the major challenge facing Nigerian universities is power supply.

He called on the AfDB to focus on providing reliable power which will go a long way in alleviating most of the problems facing the universities and the Nigerian economy at large.

In their separate presentations, the Directors of Center for Information Technology (CIT), Professor Bashir Galadanchi, Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnership (DRIP), Professor Ibrahim A. Rufai, Dangote Business School, Professor Talatu Barwa and Deputy Director, Center for Dryland Agriculture, Professor Sunusi Gaya all established synergy between the activities of their centres and the proposed AfDB programme.