IASP World Conference 2026: Anambra’s Chinwe Okoli Named Only African On Global Steering Committee

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Solution Innovation District, Anambra State is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Chinwe Okoli, Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation and CEO of the Solution Innovation District (SID), to the Global Steering Committee of the 43rd International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) World Conference, holding in France, from 27-30 October 2026.

IASP is the world’s foremost network of science parks, innovation districts and technology hubs. Established in 1984, it brings together over 350 member organisations across more than 70 countries, connecting governments, universities, research institutions and innovation ecosystems worldwide. As a member of the Global Steering Committee for the 43rd IASP World Conference, and its only African representative, Ms. Okoli will help shape the strategic direction and programme of one of the world’s most influential innovation gatherings, joining an international team drawn from government, academia, industry and technology ecosystems globally.

The appointment is a significant international recognition of Anambra State’s growing leadership in innovation and technology-driven development under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR. It reflects the rising global visibility of the Solution Innovation District, which has trained over 264,000 residents in digital skills and mobilising significant private sector and development partner investment since 2023 positioning Anambra as one of Africa’s fastest-growing innovation ecosystems.

Ms. Okoli’s appointment gives Anambra State a stronger voice in global conversations on the future of science parks, innovation districts and technology-led economic transformation. It also opens new channels for international partnerships, investment attraction and knowledge exchange, ahead of a Cannes conference that will convene many of the world’s leading innovation ecosystem builders, a natural stage for showcasing SID’s progress to a global audience.

This is both a personal achievement for Ms. Okoli and a proud moment for Anambra State and Nigeria, affirming that the state’s innovation agenda is earning recognition among the world’s leading innovation ecosystems.

Congratulations to Ms. Chinwe Okoli on this well-deserved appointment. We wish her every success as she represents Anambra State, Nigeria and Africa at the highest levels of the global innovation community.