By John Ikani
Rallies have kicked off to mobilise support for the Nigeria Startup Bill (NSB) and its proposed impact on startups in the country.
Campaigners for the NSB say the rallies are aimed at enlightening stakeholders in the Tech Ecosystem on the Bill’s provisions and spread awareness to the grassroots.
About the NSB
One of the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Bill is to bridge the engagement gap between startups and regulators. This is being done through a proposed Council, made up of members from both parties, which meets regularly to harmonise on regulation. The bill stipulates the quality of persons on the council, number of council members, quarterly meetings, among others.
If achieved, this will ensure the involvement of entrepreneurs in the policy drafting process and bring an end to sudden shocking announcements. It will also go a long way in putting startups and investors at ease when conducting business in the country.
Another challenge the NSB looks to tackle is that there are so many agencies and government bodies working on various legislations, and there’s not a single bill that harmonises them. The NSB aims to achieve this and will ensure that all government agencies and parastatals are aligned on the vision for the Nigerian tech startup ecosystem.
How youths canvassed support for the bill
The rally kicked off in Ebonyi State with over 200 people in attendance. Mr Stephen Odo, State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry, and Business Development, gave an opening address where he relayed the importance of the Bill to the ecosystem and Nigeria’s economy as a whole.
In Yobe State, advocates trooped out in Damaturu with placards applauding the presidency and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, for the initiative designed to create the Nigeria Startup Bill.
Gombe, Lagos, and Abuja followed suit with electrifying campaigns.
Processions in Abuja began from the Unity Fountain, with addresses by Tracy Okoro, the NSB State Engagement Lead, commending the Presidency and the Honorable Minister, Dr Isa Pantami, for their work on the NSB, while also explaining how beneficial the NSB will be to tech-enabled startups across the country.
The Lagos State procession, which began at the National Stadium, was led by an eminent citizen, Mr Olufunmi Osho, who sensitised the media and other stakeholders gains in the bill when passed into law.
The rally in Gombe began at the Emir’s Palace, where a lot of people joined by members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) spoke on the need for collaboration and cooperation towards achieving the passage of the law.
Heritage Times gathered that thousands of people participated in the rallies across states, garnering public attention to the Bill and setting a precedent for future pieces of legislation, where all parties affected can be on the same page and become agents for change.
