BY Wasilat Azeez
Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E), a South Africa-based non-profit entity, says it has commenced the development of an ‘Entrepreneurship Village (E-Village)’ in Akure, the capital of Ondo state.
The organisation, in a recent meeting between the management of TheCable, and Joy Francis, its director of initiatives and partnerships, described the E-Village as a social impact and legacy project.
A.Y.E said the initiative would address major challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Africa when it is completed.
“The Entrepreneurship Village is a people driven project with a purpose to provide the full life-cycle of vital services to anyone who schools, works, visits and lives in the E-Village,” the non-profit said.
“It is a technology, creative, innovative, and business estate designed to serve the continent.
“The E-Village is an ecosystem of educational institutions, recreational centres, entrepreneurship hubs, research centres, work spaces, creative accelerators, picturesque living spaces and an office tower attracting entrepreneurial like minds from across the continent.”
A.Y.E said the E-Village, which is currently under construction, would house institutions such as London Academy Business School (LABS), Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK; and the School of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (SORAI).
The non-profit said it would also contain the Octagon Business Hub, Megamindz Creative Academy, Research Cube, PeakPerfly, Canada, amongst other institutions that would enhance human capacity development.
In addition, the firm said the project would bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), international institutions and multinational corporations into the same space, thereby creating an “explosive economic boom”.
A.Y.E said the initiative was designed to promote 10 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063 by developing human capital, fostering innovation and technology, community development, creating jobs and eradicating poverty.
The E-Village, according to the non-profit, is also targeted at entrepreneurship development with a focus on 40 percent women, 15 percent of persons living with disabilities, and 45 percent youth, in order to reduce inequality and create a sustainable economy.
Explaining the motive for the project location, A.Y.E said it chose Ondo state due to its accessibility via air, land, and waterways; its entrepreneurial friendly policies; and the encouragement of Rotimi Akeredolu, the state governor.
Speaking on the initiative, Sunil Santanam, chief executive officer of the E-Village, said the project welcomes multinationals, institutions, investors, philanthropists and anyone who believes in entrepreneurship development, the future of Nigeria, and Africa.
“It would give you an opportunity to be part of a legacy project. As you may know that companies may last a long time, but institutions last forever,” Santanam said.
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