NEWS
Abia State Govt Partners UNDP, Mastercard Foundation to Activate Innovation Ecosystem to Empower Young Innovators
Abia State Govt Partners UNDP, Mastercard Foundation to Activate Innovation Ecosystem to Empower Young Innovators
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Mastercard Foundation and the Abia State Government have intensified efforts to unlock the potential of young innovators in the state with the commencement of the Abia State Ecosystem Activation Meeting under the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme.
The high-level engagement, held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the AOC Centre in Umuahia, brought together government representatives and other key stakeholders to explore practical strategies for strengthening Abia’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The Young Africa Innovates Programme is designed to identify, support, incubate and scale innovative solutions created by young Nigerians, with particular focus on young people from underserved communities, young women, persons with disabilities and other atypical innovators whose ideas can contribute to solving critical social and economic challenges.
The Abia State Ecosystem Activation Meeting provided an important platform for stakeholders to examine the objectives of the YAI Programme and discuss ways of creating an enabling environment where innovative ideas can move beyond conception into viable and sustainable enterprises.
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Discussions at the meeting also focused on strengthening collaboration among government institutions, development partners and other stakeholders while building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem capable of giving young people access to the support, opportunities and networks required to transform their ideas into impactful solutions.
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The initiative is expected to further position Abia as a hub for youth-driven innovation and entrepreneurship, while opening new pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the state’s economic development.
Among those present at the meeting were the Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer to the Abia State Governor, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba; Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Raymond Ukwa.
Other selected stakeholders from various ministries, departments and government parastatals also participated in the engagement, reflecting broad institutional interest in strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem.
Their participation underscored the administration’s continued emphasis on youth empowerment, innovation, gender inclusion and the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for young people across Abia State.
The collaboration between the UNDP, Mastercard Foundation and Abia State Government is expected to provide a stronger foundation for nurturing emerging innovators and ensuring that young people, particularly those from underserved and underrepresented groups, have greater opportunities to develop solutions that can drive inclusive growth and contribute to the state’s socio-economi
c transformation.
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