Africa Innovation Foundry launches to power the next generation of African innovators

Africa Innovation Foundry (AIF), a bold new multi-regional innovation and startup acceleration platform,
has officially launched in Abuja with a mission to unlock the continent’s innovation potential and build
scalable, impact-driven ventures across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

AIF is designed to bridge the gap between talent, capital, and opportunities by providing founders with
structured support through incubation labs, regional bootcamps, policy dialogues, and investor pitch arenas.

The Foundry will empower innovators in high-impact sectors such as health, education, agriculture, fintech, clean energy, and frontier digital technology.
Speaking at the launch, Deji Garuba, Executive Director of AIF, noted that the Foundry represents a new era of inclusive innovation development on the continent.

“AIF exists to democratize innovation. Whether you are in Katsina, Sokoto, Maiduguri, or Abuja, you
deserve access to the same opportunities that can turn your ideas into global solutions. We’re building a
system that develops talent where it is and empowers communities through innovation that truly matters.”

A key highlight of AIF’s model is its region-specific engagement strategy, which tailors programs to the
unique strengths, opportunities, and development needs of each zone making AIF one of the first platforms to adopt a localized, impact-first innovation approach at national scale.

The launch event brought together stakeholders from government, development organizations, the
private sector, venture capital, academia, and the tech ecosystem. The program featured a keynote address on driving innovation for economic transformation, an official unveiling of the AIF platform, and a fireside chat exploring the future of Africa’s innovation economy through the lens of policy, capital, and
talent.

AIF is set to roll out its full suite of programs in the coming months, with regional activations planned for
North-Central, North-West, North-East, South-East, South-South, and South-West. The initiative will also
leverage strategic partnerships with ecosystem leaders, donors, investors, and government agencies.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.