![[Nigeria] Ventures Platform Foundation opens applications for Gov Labs incubation programme](Images/Key Logos/Ventures-Platform.jpg)
[Nigeria] Ventures Platform Foundation opens applications for Gov Labs incubation programme
Ventures Platform Foundation (VPF), the social impact arm of Ventures Platform Hub, has opened applications for its latest incubation programme, Gov Labs.
Gov Labs is a 12-week programme for tech solutions implementing accountability and transparency within the Nigerian government’s COVID-19 response.
The programme was created with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). It will support Civil Society Organizations from across Nigeria as they build innovative solutions promoting good governance and wide-scale access to public services.
From the pool of applicants, five organisations will be selected and will each receive a $2,500 grant as well as access to mentorship, technical support and networking opportunities.
During the 12-week period, participants will also work alongside key experts in policy advocacy, citizen engagement and public sector reform as they build scalable and easily adoptable solutions which target the pain points of the Nigerian government’s COVID-19 response.
“Since the pandemic began, there has been a major emphasis on the health and economic implications of COVID-19 however, we cannot deny that democracy and governance have also taken a huge hit during this period.’’ Mimshach Obioha, Executive Director at Ventures Platform Foundation, said.
‘’With governments imposing restrictions on civil liberties, we need stronger support for basic human rights and something needs to change urgently,” he added.
Ventures Platform Foundation has driven a number of initiatives to address pre-existing crises in Nigeria as well as the devastation caused by the pandemic.
In October last year, the company awarded $6,000 to seven different startups developing tech solutions to assist the fight against the coronavirus as part of its COVID-19 Innovation Challenge and also recently launched its Startup North East incubator to aid relief efforts for the crisis in Northern Nigeria.
