By Adeyemi Funmi
The Solution Innovation District (SID), a flagship project of the Anambra State Government, has won international recognition at the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) 42nd World Conference in Beijing, China.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Chinwe Okoli, Special Adviser to the Gov. Charles Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation.
Okoli said the project, initiated by Gov. Soludo, emerged among the top three winners of the prestigious IASP Inspiring Solutions Award 2025.
The award, she said, recognised the SID’s “Anambra Digital Tribe” initiative, which targets training one million youths in digital skills as a transformational and inspiring blueprint for building a sustainable, homegrown innovation economy.
Okoli represented the state at two major international forums in Beijing – the Triple Helix Association, CASSSP Innovation Summit and the IASP World Conference.
At the Triple Helix Summit, Okoli, who presented a paper titled “The Anambra Story – From Theory to Transformation”, highlighted how Gov. Soludo’s administration was applying the Triple Helix model to align government, academia and industry.
She said the achievements showcased include the training of more than 80,000 citizens in digital skills, the launch of dozens of startups, and over two million dollars in secured ecosystem investments.
Okoli emphasised that tackling Africa’s digital growth and youth unemployment required cross-border cooperation, while positioning Anambra as a gateway for global partnerships.
“The award is a powerful testament to Gov. Soludo’s foresight and firm commitment.
“His strategic investments in technology infrastructure and youth empowerment have proven that emerging economies can not only participate in but excel on the global innovation stage,” she said.
She said the award affirmed the state’s vision of transforming the historic Old Government House into a 13.7-hectare technology hub with AI labs, robotics centres, offices, residences and research facilities.
The state, she said, had already secured collaborations with partners such as UNDP, Meta, Microsoft, Connekt Broadband and Circum Technologies.
