A pan-African platform, Innovation Festival, (IFest) has been launched in Nigeria as an empowerment platform curated to harness talents that will advance the course of humanity and address the societal problems and challenges facing Africa in some critical sectors.

IFest, in its inaugural edition with the theme, “Exploring the possibilities of Innovation”, is powered by Maxxconnection, an experience marketing company. The platform was launched on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at Radisson Blu, Ikeja to the media, government officials, corporate organisations and other critical stakeholders across Africa.

Introducing the iFest platform to the media in Lagos, the chairman of IFest, Prince Dapo Adelegan, stated that said, “IFest is an empowerment platform created to showcase and incubate African talents/ideas and to harness those talents to full potential while solving our societal issues.

“Africans are talented and it is evident in the way and manner African youths have been able to advance the course in other western countries. Young talented Africans and Nigerians are all over without necessary support, exposure and capacity building to unbundle their hidden talent,” Adelegan said.

According to him, IFest as a platform would encourage and collate great innovative works from young Africans, especially in key areas that would assist to drive the continent out of poverty, and create jobs opportunities for millions of Nigerians/Africans through the convergence of all stakeholders – government, venture capitalists, businesses and innovators and implementing some of the great ideas discovered.

At IFest, the executive director of the Innovation Festival Mr. Owolabi Mustapha stated that “We recognise that the possibilities of the human imagination are infinite and the only way to get our desired utopia is to unleash the latest innovative potential innate in all of us,” adding that “we are creating a platform that brings together all stakeholders to explore the possibilities of innovation.”

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, represented by Aruya Temilade, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information, said that the State is excited to be part of the project.

According to her, “IFest could not have come at the right time as Lagos is moving in the same direction of innovation. The mega city project requires innovative ideas to achieve it, therefore we are very excited to be part of this project.”

Some of the key take away at the IFest will be that to educate and showcase to all stakeholders what innovation really is, harness the potential of the innovation to address important societal issues such as unemployment, insecurity and power and to open doors of opportunity by giving innovators a platform to showcase their innovation to different investors who will help bring crafts to life.

Apart from providing opportunities for budding innovators in most areas of business and trade, IFest also has potential to throw up fun memory and entertaining collaterals such as networking opportunity, sales and exhibition opportunity and entertainment.

The IFest experience encompasses an innovation pitch, a showcase of innovative products (product launch), innovative features, upcoming technology, and discussions on the effect of present and future innovations in the business community.

“The festival isn’t complete without IFest Night Market. The Night Market is the first of its kind, offering local and global brands an exclusive platform to organise promotional campaigns, product showcase, publicity for upcoming offerings or conduct sales,” Mustapha revealed.

The Night Market is targeted at individuals and corporate bodies, and as the name implies, it would remain accessible to consumers after work hours.

Other dignitaries who attended the media launch include Mr. Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, chief press secretary to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, top executives from KPMG and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc amongst others.

•PHOTO: Tunji L:R: Prince Dapo Adelegan, Chairman iFest, Doyin Adewunmi, MD Creativexone limited, Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Lagos State, Owolabi Mustapha, Executive Director, iFEST, Shola Adegborioye, DMD Creativexone limited and Feyi Olukoya, MD Mediastamp Limited during the media launch of Innovation Festival (IFest) at Radisson Blu Ikeja Lagos . . . on Tuesday

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