The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme, has unveiled 31 youth innovators in Akwa Ibom State across key sectors such as tourism, creative enterprise, local culture, and small businesses. The programme, funded by UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation, also receives technical support from NerdzFactory Company.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort covering seven states, including Lagos, Ekiti, Kwara, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, and Borno, aimed at promoting innovation-driven development through youth empowerment.
The Akwa Ibom State Innovators Showcase, held over the weekend in Uyo, had the theme “Youth Innovation as Driver of State Development.” The event highlighted how young people are using creative ideas to promote the state’s growth while aligning with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
Speaking during the event, the Project Manager of the YAI Programme, Ifeyonwa Egwaoje, explained that the focus for Akwa Ibom was on tourism and creative enterprise. She said the programme celebrates young people who have created impactful solutions to societal challenges while generating employment opportunities.
“In Akwa Ibom, the YAI Programme focused on tourism and creative enterprise, bringing together 31 young innovators developing solutions that promote sustainable tourism, local culture, and small business growth,” she said.
Egwaoje added that Akwa Ibom has a rich cultural heritage marked by diverse traditions, languages, and artistic expressions. She noted that this diversity is showcased through annual festivals, culinary experiences, and the state’s renowned hospitality.
“The programme is aimed at leveraging Akwa Ibom’s coastal and cultural heritage to promote tourism innovations that can stimulate job creation, enhance service delivery, and showcase the region as a competitive destination,” she said.
Speaking further about the initiative, Egwaoje described the YAI Programme as a platform for youth-led solutions. “Innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s about solving real problems that affect real people,” she said.
“The state showcase is a celebration of young people doing exactly that: building climate solutions, inclusive fintech tools, waste-to-wealth platforms, agro-logistics systems, and more.”
She explained that the Young Africa Innovates Programme (2023-2025) is a partnership between UNDP and the Mastercard Foundation, designed to catalyse youth-led innovations that drive socioeconomic development.
Egwaoje stated that YAI identifies, incubates, and scales innovations from young people across different sectors by providing training, mentorship, and resources needed to transform their ideas into practical solutions.
One of the innovators, Beatrice Ekemini Joshua, said she specialises in manufacturing and selling historical costumes and handmade accessories. “I am establishing a cultural art hub through the manufacturing and selling of historical costumes and handmade accessories, creating empowerment, cultural preservation, and global recognition,” she said.
