TECHDIGEST – Lagos State has firmly placed itself on the global map after it braced all odds to emerge regional leader in the Africa start-up ecosystem, leaving cities like Nairobi, Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana trailing in influence and in start-up funding.

This is also as 35 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital city, Abuja, are struggling to catch up with the pace of development in terms of start-up economy.

The state alone is home to over 400 start-ups, representing about 88 per cent of the total number of start-ups in the country.

A 2023 global start-up ecosystem report by Startup Genome revealed that in 2022, Lagos became the regional leader in ecosystem values and early-stage funding.

According to the report, in the ecosystem values, Lagos led these regions with a total of $8.43 billion, while Nairobi, Johannesburg, Dakar and Accra got $7 billion, $3 billion, $2 billion and $1 billion respectively.

Also in early-stage funding, Lagos led with 0.82 billion, while Nairobi, Johannesbourg, Darkar and Accra respectively pitched at 0.34 billion, 0.27 billion, 0.00 billion and 0.04 billion each.

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Meanwhile, the report noted that Lagos city with its population of 24 million residents boasts of over 400 startups and is home to approximately 88 percent of Nigeria’s startups. The city’s dynamic ecosystem has attracted significant attention from investors, leading to the emergence of numerous innovative ventures.

The report said: “Lagos, with a population of about 24 million residents, boasts of over 400 startups and is home to approximately 88 per cent of Nigeria’s startups. The state also holds its place in the 51–60 range of the Emerging Ecosystems ranking.

“The deals that boosted this rise included OPay’s $400 million Series C in August 2021 which was the region’s biggest deal, and Flutterwave’s $250 million Series D in February 2022.”

Different tech experts both within and outside Nigeria have commended the report, asking Nigeria to ensure favourable policies and conditions that can enable the country to replicate the Lagos feat in other states in the country.

They advised that the Nigeria Startup Act, enacted in October 2022 should be depended upon to see that the Lagos’ feat is replicated nationally.

Managing Partner, Nubia Capital, Mr Davidson Oturu, said: “The government should implement the Nigeria Startup Act, a comprehensive law that can transform the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The government can also play a major role in digital transformation by integrating digital technology into all areas of business, fundamentally changing how startups operate and deliver value to customers.

“Another one is to strengthen infrastructure, including reliable internet access, consistent power supply and efficient transportation systems. Improvements in these areas can make a significant difference in a startup’s ability to operate effectively.

“Improved access to capital: Startups need funding to grow and scale. The government could establish more venture capital funds, offer low-interest loans for startups, or provide tax incentives for investors who support start-ups” he added.

Suggesting how the other 35 Nigerian states and FCT should catch up with Lagos, Chief Revenue and Data Officer at Enterprise Business Information systems, Mr Wale Awosokanre, said: “Lagos has excelled due to key reasons including being the commercial hub, allowing cross fertilisation of skills, needs and opportunities.

“Many start-ups are able to engage commercial enterprises like banks, telecommunication operators, Telcos to integrate and test their solutions which may not be available in other states.

“Knowledge transfer in Lagos is huge as there are many ICT fairs, symposiums, workshops and summer classes, boot camps where experts are able to share knowledge with upcoming developers, architects and would-be start-ups in a friendly, conducive environment.

“Also, most developers migrate to Lagos because of the salary and opportunities to earn much better income as most high paying start-ups are based in Lagos.

“Each State will need to imbibe all the above to ensure growth of start-ups in their states while Lagos needs to increase the existing hub not just in Yaba and Victoria Island but extend same to Agege, Ikorodu, Epe and other locations within the state,” Awosokanre added.

In his opinion, another tech expert, Executive Director at Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga Sesan said: “This feat was achieved in spite of government, and even in some cases, despite government attempt to frustrate some of the efforts. So the first lesson here is that government should stay out of the way of success except they’re helping.

“A second lesson would be to listen and find out how we got here, and how exactly they can support with a policy environment that can then make this keep happening and possibly get better.”

“A lot more initiatives such as this are needed for aspiring women tech entrepreneurs in Africa.”

Vanguard

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TECHDIGEST – The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum 2022 organized by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) recently ended in Kenya with the launch of PIN’s 2021 Annual Digital Rights and Inclusion Report – LONDA. The forum was organized by PIN  and a host of country partners across 17 African countries from April 12th to May 20th.

Londa 2021 expands on last year’s report with findings from 22 countries, examining themes of privacy, freedom of expression, access to information, segmentation and exclusion, digital transformation, affordability, gender, and others within existing legislative frameworks, and against the backdrop of a widening digital divide. This edition captures the gaps and proffers recommendations to achieve a digitally inclusive and rights-respecting Africa.

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Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, highlighted the importance of Londa in Africa and need for ground breaking rights-respecting frameworks.
His words: “Africa needs to make an urgent choice between focusing on clampdowns and maximising digital opportunities so we don’t miss out on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). As Paradigm Initiative’s 2021 Londa report shows, yet again, many of the 22 African countries featured in the report are too busy violating digital rights to focus on the digital opportunities that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on their relevance.

“The report is timely as it assesses the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa, and also provides recommendations on what each country must do to move towards realising the huge gains that rights-respecting and inclusive digital policies and practices bring.”

The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum brought together over 800 delegates and participants for 39 days to dissect the state of digital rights and inclusion in Africa in 18 virtual sessions and 16 in-person sessions and was attended by experts, stakeholders, and advocates within the digital rights ecosystem in Africa to deconstruct and demystify digital rights and inclusion, sharing recommendations for a proper digital rights implementation within Africa, in a statement by PIN’s Communications officer, Mr Valery Njiaba in a media briefing closing the event.

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TECHDIGEST – Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a Pan-African social enterprise is set to host a series of digital rights advocacy sessions dubbed Digi-Talks with Focus across 10 African countries using its short film Focus, a visual representation of its 2020 annual report LONDA that highlights digital rights and inclusion infractions in 20 African countries.

The Digi-Talks with Focus, according to Valery Njiaba | Communications Officer | Paradigm Initiative, will run between February 15th and March 7th, 2022, in Cameroon, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia.

“It will feature the screening of Focus, a look at the findings of the Londa report, an open conversation on the state of digital rights and inclusion, questions and answers, and debates aimed at enhancing digital rights in all the host countries.

“Paradigm Initiative will convene these sessions with local partners in each country bringing together diverse audiences over half a day”, he said.

The sessions, TechEconomy.ng gathered, will also provide opportunities for engaging conversations and to make key recommendations to enhance digital rights on the continent.

To enhance digital rights and combat online violations in Africa, PIN will be presenting its tools of impact such as ripoti.africa a platform that enables online users to report digital rights violations in Africa including breaches of online privacy, and ayeta.africa a toolkit for African digital rights actors aimed at addressing the growing need to safeguard activists, journalists, whistleblowers, and others working with sensitive information in the global South.

Paradigm Initiative is a Pan-African social enterprise that works to connect underserved young Africans with digital opportunities and ensures the protection of their rights.

Across its regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and beyond, Paradigm Initiative works to connect underserved African youth with improved livelihoods through digital inclusion and digital rights programs.

Source : Techeconomy.ng

Link:https://techeconomy.ng/2022/02/paradigm-initiative-set-to-host-digi-talks-with-focus-to-advocate-for-digital-rights/

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