Israel-Nigeria Collaboration: Creating 1 Million Digital Economy Jobs

During a press conference in Abuja, Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, emphasized his country's unwavering dedication to collaborating with Nigeria in the pursuit of creating one million jobs through the digital economy. The conference took place during the official inauguration of the 3rd cohort of the Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR), where Freeman expressed Israel's enthusiasm for partnering with President Bola Tinubu's administration in utilizing digital technology to foster growth. The event encompassed a video presentation highlighting the key aspects of I-FAIR, the launch of the program's website, and the announcement calling for nominations.

THE AMBASSADOR’S SPEECH

During his speech, the ambassador drew attention to the accomplishments of the past two iterations of the I-FAIR initiative, which empowered young Nigerians by offering mentorship and resources to transform their ideas into tangible ventures, thereby making valuable contributions to the nation's economic progress.

The ambassador underscored Israel's enthusiastic commitment to aiding President Tinubu's vision of augmenting both local and foreign investments and generating one million employment opportunities within the digital economy. Freeman emphasized that the I-FAIR program would assume a pivotal role in job creation, investment attraction, and nurturing a new cohort of innovative minds in Nigeria.

Additionally, he observed that Nigeria has the opportunity to glean insights from Israel's expertise, wherein human capital and advancements in research and development play a substantial role in driving economic growth. 

Here’s what he said;

“Israel is the world leader in digital economy and it is also the world leader in manufacturing investment in several other places. “

“We buy into this vision and we want to partner with President Tinubu and his administration, to help create the environment for investment. “

“To help create a million jobs in the digital economy and that is why we are here today because the I-FAIR programme will help to create jobs, investment and a new generation of entrepreneurial Nigerian innovators.” 

THE FOUNDING PARTNER OF “FUTURE AFRICA” CONTRIBUTES 

Iyinoluwa Aboyaji, Founding Partner of Future Africa, expressed high praise for the fruitful collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, specifically in the realm of commercializing research and development breakthroughs.

He emphasized the significance of collaborative partnerships, such as the one established with Israel, in fulfilling the President's objective of generating one million job opportunities within the digital economy.

Aboyaji highlighted the immense significance of the mandate, stressing that achieving it would require the invaluable support and knowledge derived from collaborative partnerships with countries like Israel.

He further urged young individuals to wholeheartedly embrace the Innov8Hub program as a pathway to success, emphasizing its potential to foster skill development and innovation.

OVERVIEW OF THE I-FAIR INITIATIVE 

The i-FAIR program is a collaborative initiative between the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nigeria and the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the primary aim of empowering innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and venture creators across Nigeria.

The program originated from the need to address local challenges through innovative solutions originating in Nigeria, with the overarching goal of transforming the country into a hub of startups.

Spanning a period of six months, i-FAIR provides selected participants with essential resources and support to translate their ideas into innovative and sustainable ventures capable of generating employment opportunities and creating wealth for both individuals and the nation as a whole.

The comprehensive six-month program offers participants access to expertise, technology, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop products, businesses, prototypes, and investor pitches.

Having completed two successful editions, the initiative boasts the involvement of 63 fellows and the development of 56 prototypes. With over 1,300 hours of mentorship and support for more than 100 ideas, i-FAIR has witnessed inspiring success stories. Prominent among these are Thinkbike, Soilless Farm Labs, Quadloop Africa, and Eco Circular Solution, which have successfully attracted investments and established flourishing enterprises.

According to Freeman, numerous graduates of the i-FAIR program have launched diverse businesses, with fellow Nigerians actively contributing to the economic growth of their homeland. He further announced the official inauguration of the program's third edition.

He went on to say :

“This is the official launch of the 3rd I-FAIR programme; since President Tinubu was inaugurated and one of the key focuses of his inaugural policy was improving and strengthening Nigeria’s economy. “

“He spoke specifically on several targets, to increase local and foreign investment in Nigeria, and also to create one million jobs in the digital economy. “

Additionally, he highlighted the potential for job creation within the economy by drawing insights from Israel's experience, where human capital and research development contribute to 45 percent of the GDP.

He emphasized the exceptional success of the collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, particularly in facilitating the commercialization of research and development originating from Nigerian universities. Specifically, he lauded the remarkable partnership with the Innov8Hub program, expressing his delight with the President's mandate to generate one million jobs in the digital economy.