The Federal Government has urged increased investment in innovation hubs, technology centres and ecosystem builders across the country, describing them as critical foundations for unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made the call in Abuja at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Validation Workshop, where he stressed that Nigeria’s ambition to build a diversified and prosperous economy would remain incomplete without strengthening the institutions and communities that nurture innovation.
Tijani said attention often focused on successful technology startups while overlooking the hubs, co-working spaces and ecosystem builders that provide the talent, mentorship, networks and support necessary for such businesses to emerge and thrive.
Drawing from his previous experience managing a technology hub, the Minister said the growth of Nigeria’s technology sector had been significantly influenced by the emergence of spaces where entrepreneurs could collaborate, acquire knowledge, build networks and transform ideas into viable businesses.
He said the increasing number of successful Nigerian technology companies demonstrated the potential of the country’s innovation ecosystem, but warned that the potential could not be fully realised without deliberate investment in the structures supporting innovators at the grassroots.
FG Links Digital Infrastructure to Stronger Innovation Ecosystem
Tijani maintained that government’s investments in digital infrastructure must be complemented by investments in the people and institutions capable of converting connectivity and technology into economic value.
He pointed to ongoing Federal Government efforts to expand digital infrastructure through investments in fibre-optic networks, telecommunications infrastructure and satellite technology aimed at extending digital access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
According to him, government is also strengthening other critical components of the digital ecosystem, including digital identity and cloud infrastructure, through new policies and strategic interventions.
However, the Minister cautioned that infrastructure alone would not deliver the desired economic transformation if innovation hubs lacked the resources and institutional capacity to attract and retain skilled personnel.
“Imagine if we had all the hubs in Nigeria at the same level of quality as the best hubs in the country. There would be more technology businesses, more innovation and better opportunities across the country,” he said.
Tijani also called for systematic documentation and transfer of knowledge from successful innovation ecosystems globally to Nigerian hub managers, saying exposure to international best practices could help strengthen local innovation communities.
He explained that the impact of effective technology hubs extended beyond individual entrepreneurs, as startups nurtured within such ecosystems could create jobs, establish new businesses, generate tax revenues and contribute significantly to economic growth.
Innovation Hubs Key to Economic Diversification
The Minister said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development by continuing to rely heavily on oil and gas, stressing that technology, innovation and entrepreneurship must play a greater role in diversifying the economy.
He cited leading Nigerian technology companies, including Paystack, as examples of what could emerge when talent, the right ecosystem and adequate support structures converge.
Against this backdrop, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is developing the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework to establish common standards for innovation hubs while decentralising the country’s innovation ecosystem and expanding opportunities for young Nigerians to build and scale technology-driven businesses within their communities.
NITDA Framework Targets Stronger, Decentralised Innovation Ecosystem
The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the proposed framework was designed to provide innovation hubs with a structured pathway for assessing their capabilities, identifying gaps and progressing towards maturity, rather than imposing rigid requirements on operators.
“Innovation does not happen in isolation; it happens in an ecosystem. And that ecosystem does not happen by accident; it happens by design,” he said.
Inuwa noted that innovation hubs had become important platforms for connecting innovators, students, entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, academia and government, enabling them to exchange ideas, develop solutions and transform concepts into commercially viable enterprises.
He said Nigeria had no shortage of talented and entrepreneurial young people, but many continued to face barriers such as limited access to funding, mentorship, networks, infrastructure and other support systems required to turn ideas into sustainable businesses.
According to him, talent, risk capital, large corporate organisations and government constitute key pillars of a functional innovation ecosystem, making stronger collaboration among stakeholders essential to the development of a sustainable digital economy.
The NITDA boss expressed concern that innovation activities remained heavily concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and a handful of other states, despite the significant talent and entrepreneurial potential spread across the country.
He said the proposed framework would support the development of innovation ecosystems based on the unique strengths, challenges and economic opportunities of individual communities, rather than seeking to impose a single model across Nigeria.
Inuwa disclosed that NITDA’s research had identified more than 339 innovation hubs across the country, although a significant proportion were concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and about 10 other states.
He explained that some hubs outside the major innovation centres continued to operate mainly as training centres and required additional support to evolve into full-fledged innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship centres.
Framework Provides Roadmap for Hub Maturity
The Director-General said the framework contained seven key dimensions and about 35 assessment categories through which hubs could evaluate their capabilities, identify gaps and determine their level of development.
He stressed that the framework was not intended to be prescriptive but would serve as a practical guide for hubs seeking to strengthen their operations, services and institutional capacity.
According to Inuwa, the ultimate goal was to create environments where young Nigerians could brainstorm, develop and test ideas, access relevant facilities, connect with businesses and investors, understand government policies and obtain the support needed to establish sustainable enterprises.
He further stressed the importance of private-sector participation in providing risk capital, noting that government alone could not sustainably finance the growth of startups and emerging businesses.
NITDA Seeks Stronger University-Industry Collaboration
The NITDA DG also called for deeper collaboration between universities and industry, arguing that higher institutions must become active participants in the innovation ecosystem by strengthening research, entrepreneurship, digital skills and industry partnerships.
He disclosed that NITDA was already working with the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into formal education, with the objective of producing graduates equipped to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Inuwa described the standards framework as a draft and invited hub founders, investors, development partners, government institutions, academia and other stakeholders to contribute their expertise to its refinement.
He said a robust national network of innovation hubs would enable communities to harness local talent, develop solutions to local challenges and contribute to national economic growth.
The initiative, he added, would also help reduce the pressure on innovators to relocate to major cities before gaining access to the ecosystem, networks and resources required to develop and scale their ideas.
