Nigeria Startup Bill — Young people show support through state rallies
Date:
Thursday, 28th October 2021
Locations, venues and times:
Ebonyi at the Abakaliki Stadium — 07:00 am
Yobe at 27 Stadium, Damaturu — 09:00 am
Abuja at the Unity Fountain — 10:00 am
Lagos at the National Stadium — 10:00 am
Gombe at the Emir’s Stadium — 10:00 am
The Nigeria Startup Bill (NSB) State rallies kicked off on Thursday, 28th of October, in five different states across the country to spread the word about the NSB and its proposed impact on startups in the country. The rallies aimed to enlighten stakeholders in the tech ecosystem on the Bill’s provisions and spread awareness to the grassroots.
The rally kicked off in Ebonyi state with over 200 people in attendance. Mr Stephen Odo, State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry, and Business Development, gave an opening address where he relayed the importance of the Bill to the ecosystem and Nigeria’s economy as a whole.
Yobe came second in line with its rally starting at 9 am. The rally participants canvassed the surrounding area with placards applauding the Presidency and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, for the initiative taken to create the Nigeria Startup Bill.
Gombe, Lagos, and Abuja took off at exactly 10 am. Processions in Abuja began from the Unity Fountain, with addresses by Tracy Okoro, the NSB State Engagement Lead, commending the Presidency and the Honorable Minister, Dr Isa Pantami, for their work on the NSB, while also explaining how beneficial the NSB will be to tech-enabled startups across the country.
Praise Olutuose, a representative of the Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP), also gave an address where he explained the impact of EEFP and how the NSB will support its mission towards democratising the discovery of exporters and access to relevant government incentives to grow.
The Lagos State procession led by Olufunmi Osho, a volunteer on the NSB team, started at the National Stadium and marched along Ojuelegba road, sensitising the media and other people about the NSB and how all Nigerians will gain from it when passed into law.
Gombe was not left out as processions began at the Emir’s Palace, from where Gombe citizens were joined by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) spreading the word about the NSB using placards and word of mouth to passers-by.
It was a successful event all around as over 1000 students and youth leaders showed up across all four (4) states and Abuja, garnering public attention to the Startup Bill and setting a precedent for future pieces of legislation, where all parties affected can work together and equally be enthusiastic about being agents for change.
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