News Highlights:
- Nigeria and Japan Partner to Launch $11.2 Million Innovation Hub
- Project to Strengthen Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem and Drive Economic Diversification
In a major boost to Nigeria’s tech-driven economic reform agenda, the implementation of a cutting-edge innovation hub in Abuja has officially begun, an $11.2 million project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The initiative is poised to significantly expand the country’s digital innovation ecosystem and accelerate the commercialisation of local tech solutions.
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed the development during the formal signing of the implementation agreement for the Startup Hub Project, facilitated in collaboration with a consortium of Japanese consultants, including Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.
The hub, Inuwa explained, is part of a broader vision aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic priorities, particularly the push for inclusive growth, industrialisation, and digitisation through innovation.
“To strengthen this relationship, JICA decided to give us a grant to build an innovation hub, so that after training the startups, they can have access to a makerspace where they can turn their ideas into products and services. JICA is giving us a grant worth of $11.2 million to build this innovation hub,” Inuwa stated.
The hub will not only provide infrastructure but also serve as a bridge between incubation and commercialisation for startups. It is designed to host a vibrant ecosystem that supports ideation, prototyping, product development, and scaling, offering resources such as seed funding, mentorship, and co-working space.
Inuwa emphasised the significance of deepening ties between the Nigerian and Japanese tech ecosystems, noting that exchange programmes between both countries are instrumental in fostering innovation and transferring critical knowledge and skills.
“It’s about building the entire ecosystem; we are not just training startups, we are also giving them the tools, the environment, and the financing they need to thrive,” he said.
The Abuja hub is a component of a larger $30 million grant initiative by JICA targeting startup development across Nigeria. Of this, $9.9 million is allocated to NITDA for the innovation hub project, while the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is responsible for implementing a $21 million component focused on supporting social startups nationwide.
The journey towards this project began with the launch of the iHatch programme, an initiative co-developed by NITDA and JICA to co-train and incubate early-stage startups, laying the groundwork for the current infrastructural phase.
With the consultants now on ground to commence the design phase, the innovation hub project has officially entered its implementation stage.
Once completed, it is expected to serve as a catalyst for nurturing homegrown talent, promoting entrepreneurship, and positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for technology and innovation on the African continent.