This is a presentation by Charles Emembolu to African Innovation and Startup support organisations at a Webinar organisaed by Afrilabs on 4th April, 2023 titled, "The need for a National Innovation Networks"

1. Stronger National Networks In Africa
“The Essence”
Webinar
Afrilabs & Africa’s National Networks
4th April 2023

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
● What is a National Network?
● Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem Journey
● Why Innovate for Scale, Together?
● Organising Your Network
● Case Study - ISN
● The Future
● Q&A
Charles
Emembolu
• Director, Innovation Support Network
• Co-Founder, Roar Nigeria Hub, UNN
• Founder, TechQuest STEM Academy
• Director, Lion Science Park, UNN
• CEO at Crestsage Limited, Nigeria

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
What is a National Innovation Network?
“National Associations are formed to fill a gap that might be defined as a collective voice. National
policies are not developed or influenced by a single organisation, hence the need for the formation of
national associations. The coordination of the sector helps prohibit the government from being able to
divide and rule.” - Cephas Zinhumwe, Secretary General of the National Association of NGOs in Zimbabwe
“A National Innovation Network is a collective of innovation support organisations with voluntary
membership, dedicated to enhancing their capability, capacity and operating environment in delivering
societal public goods for ambitious venture building and entrepreneurship.” - Charles Emembolu, Director of
Partnerships, Innovation Support Network

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Mpesa - Kenya Flutterwave - NG SavvyLoo - SA CardioPad - Cameroun
Math Astronomy Metallurgy Medicine
The Journey – African Innovation

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
The Journey – National Networks
Our Innovation Journey is centuries old NOT 10 years old!
Forerunners of the Africa’s innovation ecosystem include:
● Afrilabs – Africa, Abuja (2011)
● Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (NINe) – 2014***
● Ghana Hubs Network – Ghana (2017)
● Assek – Kenya (2018)
● Innovation Support Network – Nigeria (2019)
● Startup Uganda – Uganda (2019)
● Kmertech – Cameroun (2020)
● Etc.

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Why Innovate for Scale, Together?
There is Historical Data behind this journey!
The Innovation Ecosystem is impacted by:
● Post colonial rediscovery
● Disappointing national and continental leadership across board
● Annual urbanisation rate: 3.2%; 472 (2020) to 810 million (2035)
● Youthful Population: 60% under 25; 42% of global youth (2030)
● Dwindling impact of minerals and physical resources on direct
wealth of nations
● Global Innovation Index - Poor

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Why Innovate for Scale, Together?
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ILLITERACY
Of Africa's nearly 420 million youth aged 15-35, one-third are
unemployed and discouraged, another third are vulnerably employed, and
only one in six is in wage employment. Youth face roughly double the
unemployment rate of adults, with significant variation by country. – AFDB
“Literacy rates in Sub Saharan Africa is 67% compared to 87% global rating” –
Worldbank

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Why Innovate for Scale, Together?
The STARS are aligned
● Afrilabs: 52 out of 54 African Countries, 400+ Innovation Hubs
● The National Innovation Support Networks: 10+
● Digital Economy and Internet (570 million internet users) (2022) 2x in 7yrs
● AfCFTA: 54 AU member states signed!
● Venture Capital: $7Billion (2022) from $560Million (2017)
● National Startup Acts
● Political Participation by young Africans

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Organizing a National Network
National Networks in Africa can be organised to:
● Strengthen Capacity of Innovation Hubs
● Enhance Collaboration locally and internationally
● Realign Government Involvement, Support and Aid
● Reduce duplication of effort
● Replicate successful venture building
● Enhance Talent Development, Digital Skills and Market Access
● Develop and Influence Policy; foster adoption
● Attract Venture Capital
● One Africa: Foster Intra Trade and regional Market Discovery

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Setup Strategy – National Networks
The following strategy can foster ease of setup:
● Adopt the Ubuntu Spirit
● Identify other players (innovation hubs, incubators, accelerators, co-
working spaces, academia, government, etc.)
● Connect with other national networks and Afrilabs
● Adopt a framework and structure
● Agree a constitution or binding document
● Incorporate a legal entity
● Establish a Secretariat and a Board of Directors
● WeMove!!!

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Case Study – Innovation Support Network
October 2018:
● Mooted the idea at Afrilabs ANNUAL GATHERING 2018 by a couple players
● Identified other key players and setup “Hub Owners Village” Group
Jan - February 2019
● Series of virtual meetings
● Constituted effort into sub-groups from the 21 reps of hubs & co-workspaces
● Connect with other national networks and Afrilabs
● Drafted Aims, Objectives and Membership criteria
● Reviewed incorporation options and legal considerations
● Invited Afrilabs (Anna) to provide insight on governance at Pan-African level

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Case Study – Innovation Support Network
5th February 2019: Impact Hub Lagos
● Presentation by various subgroups
● Afrilabs (Anna) attended and also facilitated cross border information including
membership criteria and constitution.
● Ratified membership criteria, aims and objectives of organization
Other Activities
● Adopted a new name for the organization and commenced incorporation activities
● Registered 75 Founding Member Organisations

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Never walk alone!
Oct 2018 Oct 2019
Feb 2019
Oct 2019 Oct 2019 Dec 2021

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Never walk alone!
Innovation Support Network Annual Gathering
Lagos, Nigeria – 8th December 2022
Moyin Joaeph Hope Jennifer Maimuna

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
Success Stories
Successes To Date:
● Recognized Nationally and Internationally as Nigeria’s organised
Innovation Support Organisation
● 5 Elected Executive Board Members
● 140 hubs strong with national spread
● 4 Team Secretariat
● Strategic National Programs supported by Ford Foundation, GIZ, etc.
● Ecosystem Partner for Nigerian Startup Act

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023
The Future
The following next steps:
● Secretariat Capacity Building
● Constitutional Review
● Boost sustainability of network members
● Regional integration by:
○ Co-programming (Speakers, Multicountry, Joint Funding,
○ Strategic familiarisation tours
○ Market Access for start-ups and entrepreneurs
○ Multinational Founders Support
○ Multi-Lingual solutioning and programming
○ Shared resources, toolkits, databases
○ Collaborative Research
○ Amplify the Successes!!!

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Building Stronger National Networks in Africa 4th April 2023

18. THANK YOU!
charles@roarnigeria.org +234-809-941-3182