Abuja, Nigeria Cohort 7

Based on the work done on REAP, the team devised a strategy borne around 4 Key Objectives:

1. Project Cowpea

The team, given opportunity to focus on Innovation in Agriculture as an area of comparative advantage and challenge of not being able to export a product that Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of (Cowpea) due to food safety concerns; set about making its Must Win Battle the successful export and acceptance of a batch of Cowpea, by using Innovation all along the process to produce and safeguard batches of the product, or its derivatives.

Although this process has been more challenging than originally envisaged, the team has identified and is working with a partner, who is licensed to ship product to the USA, which will serve as a control test pre-expansion.

2. The Nigeria Startup Act

Team Abuja partnered with extended stakeholders across all regions of Nigeria to get a bill passed offering a package of protections and incentives for labelled IDEs. This was the fastest bill ever to transmit from inception into law, outside of budgets and finance bills.

This came amid a backdrop of data that showed the interventions needed within the Nigerian ecosystem transcend the capabilities of any single entity. An overarching law of general principles, involving a broad swath of stakeholders, are incorporated into those responsible to see startups thrive in Nigeria.

The third of its kind on the African continent, the Act passed in October 2022 and members of the team are involved in the ongoing implementation processes.

3. Growing the IDE Pipeline

With the Startup Act creating a strong foundation, the pipeline strategy is in place. Key stakeholders in the team are forging partnerships to enhance their contributions in this regard. The growth of education, polishing and financial support in Abuja over the year since REAP is testament to this. The focus will be on deepening the long-term initiatives going forward.

4. A Hybrid Backbone Organization

Beyond the 4 main models for a backbone organization as envisaged by REAP, the team decided to adopt a hybrid approach, comprising of a structure and functions more closely suited for the Nigerian environment.

It designed this prior to the NSA but is very consistent with the structures contained within the Act.

The current plan around this includes a two-pronged approach:

1. Incorporating a wider national body, into the NSA framework
2. Helping to strengthen the Abuja Enterprise Agency, in its focus on building an ecosystem for Abuja