Abuja, Nigeria — Anambra State has been recognised for its innovation-led development agenda at the Africa Innovation and Investment (AfricaX) Summit 2026 held in Abuja, where Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo received the AfricaX Innovation Impact Award.
The award was presented at the summit hosted by the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), in recognition of what organisers described as Anambra State’s growing reputation as a leading subnational innovation ecosystem in Africa.
Governor Soludo was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, who highlighted the state’s strategic investment in technology, entrepreneurship, and human capital development.
According to the presentation, Anambra’s innovation agenda—anchored on the “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere” policy framework—has driven several flagship programmes aimed at expanding digital skills and startup development across the state.
Key initiatives such as LevelUp Anambra, Code Anambra, and the ISP Network Engineering Training programme were cited as having collectively trained over 264,000 individuals in various digital and technical competencies.
The state also reported the incubation of 111 startups, facilitation of more than ₦364 million in seed funding, and the development of 21 innovation hubs aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and technological growth.
A major highlight of the state’s innovation strategy is the ongoing development of the Solution Innovation District (SID) permanent campus, a 13.7-hectare facility designed to serve as a hub for research, technology development, and talent incubation.
Officials at the summit noted that the recognition reflects Anambra State’s commitment to building sustainable innovation infrastructure and positioning itself as a model for technology-driven economic transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.
The award adds to growing attention on subnational governments in Nigeria adopting innovation-focused strategies to diversify their economies and strengthen youth participation in the digital economy.
