In a significant step towards fulfilling the Presidential goal of reforming the economy for ongoing inclusive growth and expediting diversification through industrialisation and digitisation, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has revealed the initiation of an $11.2 million innovation hub in Abuja.
This initiative is a transformative collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
This partnership, which involves collaboration with the Chief Consultant, Consortium of Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd., was formalised through the signing of an agreement for the implementation of the Startup Hub Project.
The project, supported by JICA’s $11.2 million grant, aims to significantly enhance Nigeria’s innovation landscape by providing essential infrastructure and support for startups, acting as a centre for creativity, research, and technological advancement.
Earlier this year, the Federal Government of Nigeria signed a $30 million grant agreement with JICA to establish Startup Hubs in Abuja.
This project comprises two primary components: the first, a $9.9 million initiative to be carried out by NITDA, focuses on developing a dedicated Startup Hub; the second, worth $21 million and to be executed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), aims to foster a supportive environment for the growth of social startups throughout the country.
In his comments, Inuwa stated that the project commenced with the launch of the iHatch initiative, which aims to co-train and incubate startups with seed funding provided by JICA.
“To enhance this partnership, JICA has decided to grant us funds to build an innovation hub so that after training the startups, they can access a makerspace to transform their ideas into products and services.
JICA is providing us with a grant of $11.2 million to establish this innovation hub,” he expressed.
Inuwa also praised the collaborative efforts to strengthen ties between the Nigerian and Japanese tech ecosystems. He emphasised the significance of ongoing exchange programmes that not only promote knowledge sharing and skill transfer but also create new opportunities for collaboration among innovators in both nations.
He noted that these initiatives are critical for developing a more conducive environment for Nigerian startups to evolve into sustainable, innovation-driven businesses capable of competing globally.
“It’s about constructing the entire ecosystem; we are not only training startups, but we are also providing them with the necessary tools, environment, and financing to succeed,” he asserted.
The DG announced that the consultants have arrived and are ready to commence preliminary design work, marking the official start of the project’s implementation phase.
Beyond simply providing infrastructure, the hub is envisioned as a catalyst for economic development by nurturing local talent and encouraging entrepreneurship.
It will bridge the gap between training and commercialisation, providing a supportive environment for startups to ideate, innovate, and scale their businesses.
By equipping innovators with the essential resources they need to succeed, such as mentorship, incubation assistance, and access to seed funding, the project aims to bolster Nigeria’s role as a leading tech and innovation hub in Africa.
