A legal expert, Osigwe Momoh, has hailed the enactment of the Abia Startup Law 2025, describing it as a transformative step that could unlock innovation and entrepreneurship, while urging other states to domesticate the Nigeria Startup Act 2022.
Momoh, Lead Counsel at Robson Legal, made the call on Thursday during a lecture at the South-East Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry (AIF) held at the Abia State Secretariat Complex in Umuahia.
The event brought together government officials, investors, innovators and tech founders from across the South-East to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s growing technology ecosystem.
According to Momoh, Abia has demonstrated that many of Nigeria’s challenges can be addressed through purposeful leadership and practical policies.
Using the biblical “sin of Esau” as a metaphor, he urged innovators to value and protect their ideas rather than take them for granted.
“Many creatives undervalue their gifts because they come naturally. Failing to appreciate and protect your ideas weakens your ability to maximize their potential,” he said.
He advised innovators to incorporate companies as soon as they develop viable ideas, adopt marketable brand names, register trademarks and secure copyrights where applicable.
Momoh, however, noted that software requires specialized legal protection beyond conventional copyright because of its unique nature.
He described the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 as a vital legal framework that strengthens ownership rights for registered startups and called for greater awareness of both the federal law and the newly enacted Abia Startup Law 2025.
The legal practitioner also urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of available government funding, including Abia State’s ₦2 billion seed fund and the Federal Government’s ₦10 billion legislative fund.
He further advised innovators to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and Non-Circumvention Agreements (NCAs) before discussing their ideas with potential partners or investors.
“Value your ideas properly, avoid underselling them, and always remember that your ideas are worth protecting,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Founder of Digital Creator Africa, Ifeoma Areh, said Artificial Intelligence (AI) is creating unprecedented opportunities for Africa to tell its stories to a global audience, particularly through the film industry.
She noted that international demand for authentic African stories has never been stronger, describing the continent’s untapped narratives as a major opportunity for cultural influence and economic growth.
Areh encouraged young innovators, startups and creatives to harness AI-powered tools for film production and digital content creation, noting that the creative industry offers access to international markets and foreign exchange earnings.
She added that Digital Creator Africa is already touring Nigeria and other African countries to train aspiring creators, saying demand for AI skills continues to grow.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Africa Innovation Foundry, Deji Garuba, described AIF as a national incubation program focused on equipping young Nigerians with digital skills while helping startups build sustainable, investment-ready businesses.
“The program has two key objectives: to upskill talent and incubate startups into sustainable, investable and profitable businesses,” he said.
Garuba said the initiative aims to train 150,000 Nigerian youths and incubate 3,000 startups over the next 24 months—about 100 startups per state.
According to him, training will be delivered through a combination of virtual learning and physical innovation hubs, with participants enrolled in beginner, intermediate, and advanced tracks.
He also announced a partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria, providing startups nationwide with access to a ₦100 million funding pool, and expressed optimism that more local and international partners would join the initiative.
Garuba commended the Abia State Government for hosting the South-East activation and pledged continued collaboration with other states in the region, including Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra.
Other speakers at the event included Executive Director Toyin Chukwudozie, who spoke on “Education as a Vaccine”; Chiemela Anosike, CEO of Solaris; and Japhlet Nwamu, who delivered a presentation on “Building an AI-Powered State.”
