DIGILOGIC contributed to the AfriconEU project’s start-up bootcamp in Abuja with the intervention of Adriano Mauro, Apodissi’s Managing Director, bringing his experience as an entrepreneur in Nigeria since 2008.

The AfriconEU bootcamp was attended by eighty participants, who shared the daily challenges they encounter in bootstrapping their innovation. These challenges primarily revolve around the lack of infrastructure, encompassing issues like limited bandwidth and erratic electricity supply. The geographical distance from major urban centres, such as Lagos and Abuja, further compounds the difficulties faced by Nigerian SMEs and start-ups, hindering their ability to participate in events courses and engage with industry peers.

The session started with Tracy Okoro, the leader behind Business Academy Africa, offering quality and affordable learning resources to Nigerian entrepreneurs. Okoro addressed the hurdles confronting start-ups and innovators: the acute shortage of funds and their limited ability to connect with opportunities beyond their region.

Adriano Mauro started his talk by sharing a brief history of his personal and professional journey in Nigeria, spanning the last 15 years. He explained the hurdles he faced when attempting to establish partnerships with fellow industry players. He also emphasised the significance of SMEs in obtaining essential product certifications and protecting innovation to enhance the value of their solutions.  Finally, he stressed the importance of striving for higher quality standards to compete in a global market that transcends local boundaries.

The morning session and experts’ presentations introduced the participants’ working group activity, where the attending Nigerian innovators discussed how to bring their innovation to life.