Awka, Nigeria – The launch of the South East Venture Capital Programme has been described as a major milestone in the development of the region’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, with stakeholders hailing the initiative as a catalyst for economic transformation and startup growth.
Speaking on the programme, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State on Innovation and Business Incubation and Chief Executive Officer of the Solution Innovation District (SID), Mrs. Chinwe Okoli, said the initiative demonstrates that innovation-driven enterprises in the South East can attract meaningful investment when supported by strong institutions, strategic partnerships, and transparent processes.
According to her, the deployment of capital to promising startups through a merit-based and transparent selection process sends a strong signal to investors and entrepreneurs that the region is increasingly becoming a viable destination for innovation-led investments.
Mrs. Okoli commended the Managing Director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, for spearheading what she described as a bold and visionary initiative. She noted that bringing together startup founders, investors, development finance institutions, commercial banks, telecommunications companies, and state governments around a shared vision for regional economic development represents a significant achievement.
She further stated that the programme aligns closely with the vision of the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, whose commitment to building a technology-driven economy led to the establishment of the Solution Innovation District (SID), widely regarded as a platform positioning Anambra as Africa’s emerging Silicon Valley.
Over the past few years, SID has focused on talent development, entrepreneurship support, startup incubation, innovation ecosystem strengthening, and the creation of pathways for technology-enabled enterprise growth. Mrs. Okoli expressed particular satisfaction that some startups that passed through SID’s incubation programmes were among the beneficiaries of the South East Venture Capital Programme.
“This achievement validates the quality of ventures emerging from our innovation ecosystem and reinforces the importance of sustained investments in entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation,” she said.
She emphasized that the South East Venture Capital Programme complements ongoing efforts across the region by expanding access to growth capital and strengthening the broader investment ecosystem required for innovative businesses to scale and compete effectively.
Mrs. Okoli congratulated the startups that secured investment under the programme, the SEDC team for successfully delivering the initiative, as well as investors, innovation hubs, and ecosystem builders working to position the South East as a leading hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment.
She added that the programme represents another important step toward building a stronger, more connected, and innovation-driven economy for the South East and Nigeria as a whole.
“The future of the South East economy will be shaped by innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic investments. Initiatives such as this venture capital programme are helping to lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth and regional competitiveness,” she stated.