The Africa’s innovation landscape received a major boost last week with the official launch of the InnoPower Africa Foundation, the non-profit arm of InnoPower Indy, USA dedicated to empowering African youths through innovation, talent development, and job creation.
The high-profile event, which was held at The Art Hotel in Lagos, brought together leaders from government, business, academia, and development sectors. Founded by Mr. Emil Ekiyor, the foundation seeks to build an inclusive innovation ecosystem that connects African youths to global opportunities through technology and entrepreneurship.
In his opening address, the retired American NFL player, Mr. Ekiyor said the Foundation was established to address the challenges of unemployment and underdeveloped talent across Africa by equipping young people with practical skills for the digital economy.
“Our mission is to democratize AI literacy and economic opportunity across the continent, starting in Lagos. This is not aid. This is investment in Africa’s digital future.
In partnership with the Nigeria Nigerian Philanthropy Office; University of Lagos’ ARUA Centre of Excellence for Unemployment and Skills Development (CoE-USD); ECOWAS Small Business Coalition; Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM); Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); Itana (formerly Talent City) and others, we are creating a complete ecosystem where skills development meets patient capital deployment; connecting AI-trained Nigerian entrepreneurs directly with U.S. investment networks.
According to Mr. Ekiyor, we’re building:
AI literacy programs aimed at training 10,000+ through master trainer networks;
Patient capital pipelines to deploy U.S. funds through the i-Philanthropy platform of the Federal Government to vetted entrepreneurs in Nigeria;
Global market access, creating pathways to the digital economy; and
Strategic partnerships with other regional leaders in the ecosystem.
Several guests at the launch, including Prof. Adedeji Badiru, Dean Emeritus of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management at the Air Force Institute of Technology, USA described InnoPower Africa as a timely initiative to harness Africa’s demographic advantage and turn it into economic strength.
According to Prof. Sunday Abayomi Adebisi, the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Center, University of Lagos: “This is a bridge between youth potential and global opportunity. InnoPower Africa represents the kind of bold, homegrown leadership Africa needs to shape its future.”
The Foundation also announced plans to expand its innovation programs to other countries of Africa in the coming years as part of its continental mission.
