The College of Lagos (UNILAG) is making waves in Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem via its transformative Innovation-to-Market (I2M) programme, which has empowered native innovators and startups with over N801 million in funding help.
The I2M programme, in keeping with Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori, the venture director at Innovation-to-Market venture is designed to bridge the hole between analysis and commercialisation, the initiative is quickly positioning the college as a hub for sensible innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable financial impression.
Talking throughout one of many Venture I2M Incubator Programme startup pitch competitors cohorts held just lately on the Akoka campus of the college, Gbenga-Ilori defined that the venture has boosted innovators and startups capital funding with over N801 million ($481,000) since graduation of the initiative.
She additional defined that venture I2M underneath the Innovation and Know-how Administration Workplace (ITMO) of UNILAG was established with a mission to help, nurture, and propel Nigerian innovation.
“Our objective is to bridge the hole between nice concepts and market-ready options by equipping our nation’s brightest minds and researchers with the instruments, steering, and help they want,” she stated.
This venture, funded and supported by the UK authorities via Analysis and Innovation Programs for Africa, has offered a useful platform for innovators throughout Nigeria.
Gbenga-Ilori, the visionary of the venture stated since inception, the administration have been privileged to witness inspiring achievements from their incubator programme alumni.
“In our final cohort, 50 contributors accomplished the programme, with improvements throughout sectors like healthcare, agriculture, clear vitality, and schooling. At this time, many of those ventures are thriving, creating jobs and addressing urgent wants throughout Nigeria.
“Of these innovators, 10 startups have scaled and have gone forward to create extra job alternatives.
“A complete of 25 everlasting and 9 momentary job alternatives have been created (asides the startup founders). A complete capital of $481,000 has additionally been raised by our incubated startups,” she stated.
David Alozie, the director for innovation at I2M defined that inside a interval of 12 months the venture has been capable of push over 1,000 innovators to the market.
Abdulakeem Amuda, the I2M director of incubator programme stated the I2M venture is empowering the ecosystem to resolve societal challenges, earn a residing and make life higher for folks.
“The venture I2M is a really massive bold programme to particularly handle the wants of avenue innovators, and assist curb unemployment disaster within the nation by creating jobs via the innovators taken to the market,” he stated.
