‘How Nigeria can leverage innovation to power sustainable growth’

Juliet Ehimuan

Dr Juliet Ehimuan is the founder of Beyond Limits. In this interview, she shed light on how DICE 3.0 will empower African businesses in the digital economy to leverage innovation for sustainable growth.

Can you shed some light on what DICE is about?
DICE stands for Digital Innovation and Creative Excellence. It is an initiative by Beyond Limits designed to connect key players in Africa’s tech, business and creative ecosystems. It provides a platform for founders, investors, policymakers and industry leaders to exchange ideas, foster collaboration and drive economic growth.

At Beyond Limits, we believe that unlocking the potential of Africa’s digital economy will take a collective effort. While we can choose to have these collaborations in little pockets within the ecosystem, we have always seen a lot of value in creating a platform where this collaboration thrives on a large scale. We need a more integrated network where people can freely exchange ideas and make connections that can move the ecosystem forward.

DICE is one such platform that is enabling this, and our goal is to accelerate innovation, unlock new opportunities, and facilitate dialogue to drive business and technological growth across the continent.

How has DICE evolved from its previous editions to DICE 3.0?
The first two editions of DICE laid a strong foundation for collaboration and ecosystem growth, each attracting over 250 key players, including business leaders, consul generals, creatives, investors, captains of industry, policymakers and creatives.

While DICE 1.0 focused on highlighting how technology can unlock Africa’s potential and drive sustainable development, DICE 2.0 was focused on unlocking the revenue potential of African creatives, helping them go beyond content creation to monetisation and revenue generation.

DICE 3.0 builds on this foundation by tackling a pressing issue – scaling African businesses beyond local markets. Many companies struggle with market fragmentation, policy limitations, and infrastructure challenges that hinder expansion.

This edition of DICE will provide actionable insights on how to overcome these barriers through discussions with startup leaders that have successfully scaled their companies across borders as well as learnings from global markets with high-growth companies and engaging conversations with policymakers, investors and other key players in the digital economy ecosystem with first-hand experience of how to enable growth by leveraging technology, forming strategic partnerships, and unlocking public and private sector resources.

What are the talking points at DICE 3.0?
At DICE 3.0, we will have three main sessions–an Ecosystem panel with startups and investors who will share their personal experiences in successfully scaling across borders; a diplomatic panel that will feature consul generals from the United States (U.S), China and Switzerland – all these countries have large, thriving and vibrant digital economy ecosystems.

The panel will discuss the key enablers that have contributed to the vibrancy of the digital economy in those countries. Finally, we will have a deeply engaging and insightful fireside chat with the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment.

The ecosystem panel will feature leaders in the startup and investment ecosystem sharing firsthand insights on how they successfully scaled their businesses, navigated market challenges, and leveraged technology for growth. These leaders will share insights from their journeys, offering actionable strategies for entrepreneurs looking to scale beyond their current markets.

The diplomatic panel will examine examples of how challenges that we are currently grappling with in African markets have been addressed by companies and policymakers in China, the U.S. and Switzerland. Panelists will share insights from their markets, spotlighting case studies and success stories as well as current and planned initiatives designed to strengthen economic ties and unlock new market opportunities.

This fireside chat will provide a platform for the minister to share insights and highlight key initiatives. It would also be an avenue to discuss solutions that can help deepen Nigeria’s investment ties, unlock new opportunities for cross-border collaboration and accelerate sustainable economic growth. The discussion will highlight opportunities for collaboration between the government and key stakeholders.

Beyond these discussions, DICE 3.0 will also feature spotlight videos, which will showcase ground-breaking initiatives and success stories from African businesses that have expanded beyond their home markets. They will serve as an inspiration for attendees, demonstrating what is possible when it comes to scaling successfully as an African business.

Who are the key speakers?
DICE 3.0 will feature an impressive lineup of speakers, including the Minister for Trade, Industry, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; the Acting Consul General of the US Consulate General, Lagos, JoEllen Gorg; the Consul General for Switzerland in Lagos, Frank Eggmann; the Head of Advantage Austria in Nigeria, Barbara Lehninger, (who will feature in one of our spotlight videos); the Chief Executive Officer of AFEX, Akinyinka Akintunde; the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OmniRetail, Deepankar Rustagi; the Founder of Suuru Capital, Sanne Steemers and the Co-founder and CEO of Raenest, Richard Oyome.
Their insights will provide a well-rounded perspective on business expansion, investment and cross-border collaboration.

How does DICE 3.0 contribute to Africa’s economic transformation?
Africa’s economic future depends on how well businesses can expand their impact beyond their immediate markets. To do this successfully, companies must overcome significant hurdles such as market fragmentation, complex policy environments, funding challenges, infrastructural issues and operational barriers.

The digital economy offers African nations the most viable pathway to economic growth by allowing us to leverage our large population, tech-savvy youth demographic and the creativity and drive of our people. However, we are not alone in this race.

Other regions, such as Asia and Eastern Europe, are also seeking to position themselves as the growth centers for the future. To be successful in realising our potential and creating vibrant digital economies across the continent we must ensure that silos are broken down and all the parts of the ecosystem essential for growth are seamlessly connected.

DICE 3.0 contributes towards enabling this future to unfold quickly by business leaders, innovators and policymakers with the insights and relationships needed to drive sustainable business expansion across Africa.

Also, as we have done with previous editions, we will release an insights report that captures the key learnings from the event, converting them into actionable takeaways for stakeholders. To learn more about the insights report for DICE 1.0 and DICE 2.0, readers can visit bit.ly/DICE1Report and bit.ly/DICE2Report, respectively.

What role do you see DICE playing in Africa’s digital and entrepreneurial landscape?
Africa stands at a pivotal moment, with technology offering a path to economic growth, improved governance, and a higher quality of life. Realizing this potential, however, requires strategic collaboration, investments, and policies that support innovation.

DICE serves as a catalyst for these efforts by creating a platform where entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders can engage in meaningful discussions, develop solutions, and forge impactful partnerships. It provides entrepreneurs with access to funders and key stakeholders who can help scale their businesses, while investors gain exposure to high-potential ventures.

Policymakers also benefit from direct engagement with private sector leaders, fostering dialogue on policies that can accelerate digital and economic progress. By bridging these connections, DICE plays a vital role in shaping Africa’s digital future and driving long-term business success.

How else Beyond Limits support African entrepreneurs?
Beyond Limits continues to drive business transformation through various programmes. The Beyond Limits Fellowship for Founders provides mentorship, training and access to funding for startups across Africa. Our leadership training sessions and masterclasses also equip business leaders and their teams with essential leadership skills needed to further drive company success.

Additionally, our Global Immersion Programme coming up this year will take African executives, entrepreneurs, and creatives to some of the world’s leading innovation hubs, exposing them to cutting-edge technologies and global best practices. These initiatives ensure that African businesses have the resources and connections needed to compete on a global stage.
Those who want to learn more about our work at Beyond Limits or participate in our programs can reach us at www.beyondlimits.global.

What are the long-term goals of DICE?
The overarching vision of DICE is to empower Africa’s key stakeholders in the digital economy to harness innovation for sustainable growth. By building strong networks, creating opportunities for business expansion and shaping the future of the technology, business and creative ecosystems, DICE aims to position Africa as a global leader in digital innovation and creative excellence, just as the name implies.

We see DICE 3.0 as another significant step forward in this journey, equipping businesses with the tools, insights, and partnerships they need to scale successfully. The event reinforces the commitment to ensuring that African businesses are not only keeping pace with global developments but also actively shaping the future of business.

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