Nigeria’s drive to digitise agriculture and strengthen its startup ecosystem has received a significant boost through the partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
At the closing ceremony of the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms, an initiative organised by AGROVESTO, a JICA-funded agritech startup and beneficiary of NITDA’s iHatch Incubation Programme Cohort 2, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, highlighted the transformative impact of the collaboration.
Represented by Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji, Deputy Director, e-Government and Digital Economy Development Department, Inuwa described the partnership as “a cornerstone for Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.”
He stressed that Nigeria is now one of Africa’s most vibrant startup hubs, with young innovators applying technology to address pressing challenges.
“Nigeria is home to over 200 fintech startups revolutionising financial services, fostering inclusion, and empowering millions,” Inuwa said, pointing to Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga as success stories with global recognition.
According to him, collaborations such as the NITDA-JICA initiative are not only advancing agricultural digitisation but also reinforcing Nigeria’s reputation as a breeding ground for innovation-driven enterprises.
Highlighting the role of iHatch, a joint incubation and acceleration programme by NITDA and JICA, Inuwa explained that it provides training, mentorship, seed funding, and ecosystem support to budding startups across different sectors.
He further emphasised that the recently enacted Nigeria Startup Act has created incentives to lower barriers for innovators. These include tax holidays, easier registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), government-backed grants, innovation hubs, technology parks, and regulatory sandboxes.
According to the NITDA DG, these interventions are designed to stimulate investment, nurture talent, and position Nigerian startups for global competitiveness. He urged stakeholders, from government to investors, to continue supporting the ecosystem.
“Through strategic partnerships such as the one we enjoy with JICA, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, inclusive development, and global competitiveness. Nigerian innovations will not only solve local challenges but inspire the world,” he concluded.
Also speaking, Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Mr. Ishigame Kenji commended AGROVESTO for their dedication, creativity and pro-activeness in implementing the project, urging them to expand the initiative to reach more farmers across Nigeria.
Earlier in his opening remarks, AGROVESTO Co-founder and CEO, Bayo Adewoye commended Nigerian farmers for their hard work and contribution to national food security.
