Bunmi Akinyemiju, MD/CEO, Venture Garden Group (VGG) has expressed that their aim is to use innovative, data-driven, end-to-end technology platforms to address and reconcile inefficiencies in payment processes across multiple sectors of the African economy.
Akinyemiju, said this on Friday when he hosted William Stuart Symington, United States Ambassador to Nigeria and a delegation of US Consulate to a Pre-Launch event to unveil its new office space, dubbed Vibranium Valley which is housed on the grounds of the then renowned Concord Printing Press of Nigeria.
He noted that, since inception 6 years ago, Venture Garden Group has quietly grown 6 fully owned entities, that is focused on leveraging technology to create African solutions to African problems.
“In the last 2 years also, we have invested in 14 fintech-enabled companies across Nigeria and our early stage deployed capital has yielded over 5.6x portfolio returns and it is just getting started.
With the launch of this world-class office space, VGG have taken the first step into its next chapter, as together the Company works to grow an innovative and collaborative ecosystem that will transform Africa and the lives within it.”
He said that, Vibranium Valley which he referred to as the “Campus” will serve as a hub for Tech start ups which will build an entrepreneur ecosystem , where people can be inspired to create companies and ultimately be able to create employment.
Akinyemiju, added that Nigerian problems are not magical, they are not out of reach, with technology these problems will be solved.
He stated how EduTech the first company they started in 2011 has helped in breaching the educational gap between Nigeria and the United States, adding that Nigerian students do not have to travel abroad to get quality education.
He explained that about 3,000 students have benefited from EduTech and are currently taking classes around the world and in Nigera
He added that they have been able to use technology to solve most of the problems witnessed in the aviation sector since they created a company called AviTech
Ambassador Symington, while commending them on the stellar idea, said that people who are not connected by idea would not be at a base of any pyramid or foundation of any nation.
He said that the Vibranium Valley would be a space that would make the connection of ideas happen.
``We are in a vessel, piloting the ship, you need to connect every part of the ship and that is what this platform will do, connect the ships of Nigeria so that they can take people round the world.
``This is a chance for Nigeria to pull together at home as they are doing outside and this kind of investment will bring out their identity,'' he said.
He added that the environment and design of the valley was very conducive and serene for learning and networking.
Aderemi Dada, Chief Executive Officer, Spacefinish, the company that designed Vibranium Valley, said that they are tailored to creating office spaces that would allow businesses to be more collaborative, more innovative and more productive.
He added that, the design of Vibranium Valley was influenced by the particular needs of VGG to bring all their businesses under one roof, which created the design we just witnessed.
