CEO, Start Innovation Hub | Chairman, ISN | Ecosystem Architect | Tech Statesman

Joined August 2011
290 Photos and videos
That’s a wrap on The Omniverse Africa Summit 3.0. ​For the past four days, the newly revitalized Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (National Theatre) in Lagos was the beating heart of Africa’s digital transformation. Under the powerful theme “Connected Future: Synergy for Impact,” the summit brought together thousands of innovators, creatives, policymakers, and investors to actively shape the continent's economic trajectory. ​It wasn't just a space for big ideas; it was a launchpad for measurable action. ​Here are the key takeaways shaping Africa's digital economy from this year's edition: BRIDGING TECH AND CREATIVITY The summit beautifully blended sectors across its dedicated theme days - Narrative, Collaboration, Monetization, and Innovation. From AI applications in the creative arts to frontier tech discussions at the Deep Tech Forum, the intersection of culture and code has never been clearer. ​TALENT AS INFRASTRUCTURE Through the high-impact Career Centre initiative, the summit continued its mission of tackling unemployment by directly connecting youth talent to real-world jobs in the digital and creative spaces. ​INVESTMENT AND POLICY ALIGNMENT The Deal Rooms and specialized roundtables saw active cross-sector collaboration supported by international and local heavyweights including the European Union, GIZ, MTN Group, IHS Towers, NITDA, and the UNDP. ​Africa isn’t just anticipating the future of the digital economy; we are actively engineering it through shared ecosystems, co-creation, and strategic capital flow. ​Kudos to @uemembolu, @obiasika, GIZ/DTC Nigeria, @isnhubs the co-conveners, partners, and every ecosystem builder who made #OmniverseAfricaSummit 3.0 a phenomenal success. The future is connected, and the synergy is just beginning. Let's keep building! ​#OmniverseAfrica #DigitalEconomy #CreativeEconomy #AfricaTech #Innovation #SynergyForImpact #Lagos
2
125
Is hub survival a funding issue, or a governance problem? Join me tomorrow at The Omniverse 3.0 as we discuss how to transition African innovation hubs from short-term survival to institutional scale. 🕒 14:15 – 15:00 📍 National Theatre, Lagos (Digital Transformation Room) Hosted by GIZ Scan the QR code on the flyer to join the conversation! #Omniverse2026 #InnovationHubs
1
3
51
The global talent war has a new frontline. Yesterday, I had the privilege of delivering a Goodwill message on Day 1 of The Omniverse Africa Summit 2026 at the National Theatre, Lagos. Alongside the Executive Governor of Lagos State, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, and Ambassadors from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, the conversation was clear: Talent is no longer just an HR metric, it is a sovereign strategic asset. If you are leading an organization or shaping policy right now, these 4 realities should be on your radar: 1️⃣ Securing Talent = Securing Prosperity The world is entering a severe talent crisis. The regions that win the race to cultivate and retain top-tier talent will own the next decade of economic growth. 2️⃣ Skills Mobility is the New Superpower Talent is fluid. The ability to seamlessly move, adapt, and deploy skills across borders and industries is now a core competitive advantage. 3️⃣ AI isn’t Coming; It’s Here. Artificial Intelligence is actively rewriting the rules of the workplace. We aren't just upskilling for new tools; we are restructuring how value is created. 4️⃣ The Execution Gap. Strategy is cheap without distribution. To bridge this gap, you need a bridge to the ecosystem. That’s where ISN @isnhubs comes in, acting as your strategic, last-mile partner to close the talent and innovation deficit at every single level. The future belongs to the collaborative. Let’s build it. #OmniverseAfrica #TalentStrategy #Innovation #FutureOfWork #AfricaTech
80
Startups Onboarded today to @iDICEStartup Founders Lab Programme at @starthubtech earlier today. PitchNest PitchNest is an AI-powered fundraising readiness platform that simulates a real investor boardroom. Founders upload their pitch deck, present in a video to a multi-persona AI investment committee, and receive a scored fundability report with specific red flags and fixes before they ever face a real VC. Biovenu A clean-energy business idea that turns everyday waste (like food scraps, animal waste, and other biodegradable materials) into useful products. In simple terms, Biovenu: Converts waste into biogas (a fuel used for cooking or electricity) Produces organic fertilizer (used to improve soil for farming) ProDetect A specialized platform designed to help financial institutions modernize their fraud detection and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance processes.
61
Congratulations to members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on their inauguration. The National Regulatory Sandbox is a multi-sectoral coordinated framework designed to help innovators test ideas, navigate regulation, and grow with greater clarity. This initiative is strategically conceived to unlock opportunities in the digital economy. #SandboxNG #ONDI #NITDA #SCF #NigeriaStartupAct
Today was the official inauguration the Technical Working Group (TWG) set up to support the implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox. #SandboxNG #ONDI #NITDA #BuildingInNigeria
1
4
143
The National Coordinator of ONDI, Victoria Fabunmi, attended the launch of the ISN Hub Assessment Report Press Conference where she highlighted the critical role Innovation Support Organizations play in connecting talent, capital, and opportunity across Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. In her remarks, she reaffirmed ONDI and NITDA’s commitment to strengthening hubs as key drivers of grassroots innovation, venture growth, and digital transformation nationwide.
1
2
14
330
I am super excited to be joining change-makers and innovators at The @OmniverseAfrica Summit 3.0 this June in Lagos. At @isnhubs, our core focus remains steadfast: strengthening the infrastructure that allows African startups to scale, fostering collaborative networks, and ensuring that grassroots innovation gets the strategic support it deserves. The future of Africa’s digital economy relies on robust, interconnected ecosystems. I look forward to sharing insights on how we can collectively build sustainable structures for our founders and hubs. See you at the National Theatre! #OmniverseAfrica #InnovationEcosystem #BuildTheFuture #TechInAfrica #StartupAfrica #ISNHubs
1
46
This is an attempt to move from Farming by Chance to Data-Driven Precision. I am excited to see the intersection of engineering and agriculture taking a massive leap forward in Akwa Ibom State. A new coalition of universities, engineering institutions, and tech innovators has launched Project TAT AI (Transforming Agriculture Through Artificial Intelligence). This isn't just a pilot program; it’s a strategic move to solve real-world problems like post-harvest losses and labor shortages through robotics, IoT, and AI. Key highlights of the initiative: ✅ Lab-to-Land Model to ensuring academic research reaches actual farms. ✅ Autonomous Harvesting to help reduce the heavy reliance on manual labor. ✅ Smart Storage using IoT to prevent crop spoilage before it hits the market. Congratulations to @ibominnovation , the University of Uyo, and the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers for leading this charge toward food security and economic resilience. Read the full story here: premiumtimesng.com/regional/… #AgriTech #AI #Robotics #Engineering #Nigeria #FoodSecurity #Innovation #AkwaIbom
1
5
74
Hanson Johnson retweeted
May 11
Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programs and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.
1,533
2,538
12,507
1,592,754
As the sun rises over our beautiful land, let’s remember that no matter how tough the road has been, resurrection always comes with new hope, new strength, and new joy! From Lagos to Abuja, Kano to Enugu, Uyo to Maiduguri, this Easter, may your challenges die like the old self, and may fresh miracles, breakthroughs, and laughter rise in your life! Eggs may be expensive, but the joy in your heart is priceless. Smile, celebrate, forgive, and spread love like jollof on a Sunday afternoon! Nigeria, we rise again!
3
1
2
76
Happy Easter Holidays!
3
43
We are here to ensure that Startup Founders from Akwa Ibom State do not miss out of this @iDICEStartup opportunity.
1
2
8
140
We are getting there
We are playing football with robots at our Chinese primary school
79
Hanson Johnson retweeted
Ok, I don’t care if the kids will be dancers, but they will go to Stanford.
how is this a class? absolutely insane line-up
1
5
467
State of the Nation Banking recapitalization, stock market gains N30trn in Q1 States borrowing heavily despite higher FAAC allocations, and debates on whether reforms are truly alleviating poverty or just benefiting elites. Price sensitivity, new consumer behaviors, and skepticism about government loans or policies. Entrepreneurs, how far?
1
75
Am I watching Stranger Things?
More footage from Greece:
68
Someone somewhere is saying I wish I have capital while the other is trying things out with what's available
In the Philippines, a Skylab motorcycle is a modified bike with side extensions used to carry multiple passengers in remote areas
1
131
Hanson Johnson retweeted
Press Release: CBN Concludes Banking Sector Recapitalisation Programme: ₦4.65 Trillion Raised to Strengthen Financial System Resilience. #CBN
36
254
636
40,250
Excellent initiative, Honourable Minister Dr. @bosuntijani Pairing Project BRIDGE's infrastructure push with university-led research clusters is exactly the smart, evidence-based approach Nigeria needs to drive real digital impact in connectivity, skills, jobs, and innovation for our $1 trillion economy goal. Grateful for this forward-thinking collaboration with the education sector. Keep leading with vision! #NigerianExcellence
Engaging with members of the press yesterday on the National Digital Economy Research Clusters was an important opportunity to share how we are strengthening the foundation of Nigeria’s digital economy through research and evidence-based policymaking. As we expand infrastructure through Project BRIDGE, we must also ensure that our decisions are guided by local insights, rigorous research, and a clear understanding of our realities. The National Digital Economy Research Clusters initiative brings together our universities and research institutions to generate practical, policy-relevant solutions across key areas—from connectivity and digital public infrastructure to skills, jobs, trust, and emerging technologies—so that our digital transformation delivers real impact for all Nigerians. I was also pleased to be joined by some representatives of the academic community from within and outside Nigeria, whose presence underscored the central role of our universities in this national effort. I am particularly grateful to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, CON, for his support and shared commitment to positioning our universities at the centre of national development. This collaboration reflects our belief that building a $1 trillion economy will require not just investment in infrastructure, but also sustained investment in knowledge, talent, and innovation. More details on the Expression of Interest can be found here - b.link/EOI-NDULRC #NigerianExcellence
51