In a groundbreaking partnership aimed at driving technological innovations and fostering economic growth, the Queens Borough of New York City, USA, has teamed up with the Lagos State Government. The collaboration seeks to create a learning exchange program that will inspire collaboration between the two regions and set the stage for a lasting impact on their respective innovation ecosystems.
The Queens Borough - Lagos State alliance is focused on inspiring collaboration, highlighting shared interests, and laying the groundwork for a prosperous and inclusive partnership. The aim is to promote joint initiatives that will have a lasting impact on the innovation ecosystems of both Lagos State and Queens Borough, New York, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth.
A major emphasis of this partnership is to address the underrepresentation of black individuals in the US tech industry. Currently, only 12 percent of tech jobs in the United States are held by black individuals. The alliance aims to bridge this gap by providing more opportunities for black and African entrepreneurs to access funding, and cross-border opportunities, and expand their markets globally.
Donovan Richards, Borough President of Queens, New York, expressed strong support for the partnership and praised Lagos as the leading tech ecosystem on the African continent. He emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration to create sustainable solutions for economic growth and provide access to capital for entrepreneurs to scale up their ventures, thus fostering economic opportunities.
Donovan Richards, President of Queens Borough, New York,
Olatunbosun Alake, the then Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Innovation and Technology, emphasized the alignment of the partnership with Lagos State's mission. The state aims to provide opportunities and foster collaboration in the tech sector, thus creating economic value from its tech ecosystems. This includes opening doors for local companies to expand to new markets and collaborate with experts from New York.
Olatunbosun Alake
The partnership involved a week-long visit to Lagos Nigeria by officials from Queens Borough. During this visit, the key highlights included discussions with the Lagos State Governor to outline the agenda and areas of collaboration. Additionally, there were engagements with the Lagos Business School to explore talent exchange programs, allowing Nigerian entrepreneurs to learn and benefit from the New York ecosystem.
A curated event with Nigerian ecosystem thought leaders was also organized, facilitating an exchange of learning and experiences. The event provided an opportunity to identify areas of collaboration and mutual learning. Moreover, a Microsoft pitch day allowed startups to pitch their ideas to secure access to funding from New York, further supporting the growth of Nigerian startups.
An exciting aspect of the partnership was the recognition of the top eight Idea Hub 7.0 founders out of the twenty-eight who pitched their startups at the Pitch Day & Graduation Event. In the past few months, these founders had the opportunity to refine their ideas and grow as leaders. The organizers expressed immense pride in their progress and achievements.
L - R Donovan Richards, President of Queens Borough, New York and Victor Gbenga Afolabi Founder, Eko Innovation Centre
The event featured several esteemed speakers, including Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President; Ebony Young, the Deputy Queens Borough President; Olatunbosun Alake, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology; Victor Afolabi, Founder of Eko Innovation Center; Taiye Salami, Product Marketing Manager - Startups at Microsoft, and Omolara Adewumi, the Director of Programmes and Coordination, LSETF. Each speaker contributed valuable insights, enriching the event and furthering the discourse on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
L - R Lanre Ogungbe CEO Identity Pass, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji Founding Partner, Future Africa, Akinwande Akinsulire Startup Support Lead at Co-creation Hub, Tunbosun Alake Former Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Innovation and Technology
The Queens Borough - Lagos State alliance has the potential to make a significant impact on the innovation landscapes of both regions. By empowering entrepreneurs, bridging representation gaps in the tech industry, and fostering inclusivity, this collaboration aims to drive mutual growth and economic prosperity for Lagos State and Queens Borough. The partnership serves as a shining example of how cross-border cooperation can create positive change and open doors for the tech ecosystems of both Lagos State and Queens Borough to thrive.
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