The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omotsola Ogbe, has hailed the innovative spirit of young African minds who are ushering in a new dawn for Africa.
He said young Africans are rewriting the continent’s destiny through the power of the digital creative economy.
Ogbe stated this at the “Re-imagine Africa Conference” on Monday at Heliconia Park Hotel and Suites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the General Manager, Zonal Coordination & Corporate Communications, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, in his keynote address stated that NCDMB fully aligns with this advancement and the innovation being driven by young minds today.
He emphasized that Africans must become innovators and leaders, not just mere participants to redefine Africa’s global narrative.
“For Africa to truly harness the power of the digital economy, we must prioritize research and development in local content creation,” he said, while reiterating NCDMB’s strong commitment to Research and Development.
Kikile concluded by urging everyone to take charge of Africa’s narrative, to tell the world that Africa is not just rising but leading.
To strengthen R&D in local content, NCDMB, launched the Science and Technology Innovation Challenge, an entrepreneurship program targeted at students from accredited tertiary institutions.
The initiative encourages them to develop homegrown solutions to everyday challenges across all sectors of the economy. Each winner received $10,000, along with mentorship and resources from NCDMB to scale up their businesses.
It was also gathered that the NCDMB has established innovation hubs that support young startups and centers of excellence across the country.
Following the conference, Kikile toured the various exhibitions, where founders had the opportunity to pitch their businesses and discuss how their innovations aim to address key challenges.
