UK government’s West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH) has launched Sankore, a £1.9 million initiative aimed at promoting innovation and technology across West Africa.
Gatekeepers News reports that at a press conference in Accra, UK Minister for Africa Ray Collins invited non-profits, including UN agencies, to submit creative proposals for the project.
Sankore will facilitate the commercialisation of innovative solutions, improve innovation policy, and enhance digital service delivery. The initiative will establish new partnerships worth up to £1.9 million with non-profit organizations in Ghana and Nigeria.
“This initiative is about strengthening the global technology sector, creating opportunities for rapidly growing economies,” Collins said.
“The Sankore grant fosters partnerships, with a strong message that we go far when we go together.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Uche Nnaji welcomed the project, saying it would enhance Nigeria’s innovation landscape by strengthening industry-science linkages and developing an enabling policy environment.
British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter added, “Sankore exemplifies the UK’s commitment to driving innovation and sustainable development in Nigeria, strengthening partnerships between businesses and innovators.”
