The Nation Newspaper

Tag: e-village

  • E-village fuels innovation as Callmate AI secures seed funding

    E-village fuels innovation as Callmate AI secures seed funding

    The Entrepreneurship Village, widely recognised as Africa’s Silicon Valley, has officially disbursed the first tranche of its seed investment to Callmate AI, the innovative startup that won the GEF 2024 Pitch Competition.

    At a formal disbursement ceremony held today at the Entrepreneurship Village main campus in Akure, Nigeria, Mr. Olusola Adeoye, founder of Callmate AI, expressed profound gratitude and excitement as he received the first installment of the financial support pledged during the Global Entrepreneurship Festival.

    “This is not just funding — this is validation, elevation, and the beginning of a journey that will redefine intelligent support systems in Africa and beyond. It’s a big win for Africa,” said Olusola.

    Callmate AI is a transformative platform set to revolutionize virtual assistance by offering smart, context-aware support for individuals and businesses. With backing from the Entrepreneurship Village, the startup is now positioned to scale its innovation, strengthen its infrastructure, and expand into new markets.

    Read Also: We need boarding schools for special education, Parents of PWD tell Zamfara govt

    Representing the Village, Mr. Gbenga Adebambo, Head of Programs, stated:

    “This is a testament to our commitment to building not just dreamers but doers. Callmate AI embodies the kind of innovation we envisioned when we created the Entrepreneurship Investment Program — African-born, problem-solving, and globally scalable.”

    This disbursement marks a pivotal step in the Entrepreneurship Village’s mission to empower high-potential startups through its flagship initiative, the Entrepreneurship Investment Program (EIP), which offers founders training, incubation, funding, and global exposure.

    As GEF 2025 approaches, this milestone reinforces the Village’s vision of nurturing the next generation of African tech giants — built in Africa, for the world.

  • FG pledges support for e-village project

    FG pledges support for e-village project

    As part of its efforts targeted at driving innovation, technology and entrepreneurial landscape, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has announced its willingness to render necessary support to the Entrepreneurship Village (E-Village) project which is being situated in Akure, Ondo State.

    Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, announced this during a meeting with the stakeholders of the E-Village.

    The Minister, who acknowledged the pivotal role such an initiative like E-Village will play in driving innovation, job creation and economic growth, noted that the initiative aligns with the ministry’s vision for a tech-driven future.

    Nnaji stressed that the initiative represents a crucial step towards positioning Nigeria as a hub for technological innovation and added that the ministry will not hesitate to make collaborative efforts and policy initiatives aimed at propelling the Entrepreneurship Village to greater heights.

    Speaking earlier on behalf of other stakeholders, the President of the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E.), Dr. Summy Smart Francis, explained that e-village is a social impact and legacy project that addresses the need that the African economy currently faces in the education, entrepreneurship and infrastructural sector.

    Read Also: ‘Continuous use of technology will improve electoral system’

    Francis stated the entrepreneurial eco-system provided by e-village ensures that budding entrepreneurs are identified, trained, supported and produced to the economy to create jobs and to solve the many challenges currently experienced and yet to be experienced in the continent.

    The E-Village will house institutions such as New York institute of Finance, London Academy Business School (LABS), Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK; and the School of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (SORAI).

    It will also house the Octagon Business Hub, Megamindz Creative Academy, Research Cube amongst other institutions that would enhance human capacity development.

    On board of this legacy are reputable people from diverse backgrounds namely Steven Freidmutter, CEO SF Ventures (Advisory Board Chairman); Dan Walkovitz, CEO Mainstay Solutions; Hon. Shina Peller, The Ayedero of Yorubaland, Founder Aquila Group & Quilox Nightlife; Dr Tony Bello, Chairman and Co-founder of Shine Bridge Global.

    Others are Professor Thorsten Kliewe (Professor for Innovation Management and Business Development at Münster, University of Applied Sciences, Germany); Professor Frank Azeke, (Director Major Gifts and Asst. Professor, Business & Entrepreneurship, American University of Nigeria); Tammy Darmel Moore (Founder of Footprints in Africa) and Dr Franklin D. Redd Jr. (Founder/Principal, Embassy Capital Group, LLC.

    Others include Sophia Shepodd, CEO of Global Islamic Investment Impact Forum (Advisory Board Vice Chairperson); Dr. Larry Jone-Esan (E-Village Director of Academics); Sahil Affriya, Principal Savant Capital Cape Town, South Africa; Modupe Marc-Dawodu (Managing Consultant, MarcForte Business Consulting; Mrs Raliat Oyetunde (CEO/Lead Consultant at Prinsult Global Consulting Limited) and others.

    The project is expected to bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), international institutions and multinational corporations into the same space, thereby creating an “explosive economic boom”.

    According to Dr. Francis, the E-Village is also targeted at entrepreneurship development with a focus on 40 percent women, 15 percent of persons living with disabilities, and 45 percent youth, in order to reduce inequality and create a sustainable economy.