Nigeria Gets $11.2m Innovation Hub from Japan
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced the commencement of an $11.2 million innovation hub in Abuja, a transformative initiative in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), INCNews247 can report.
The project, designed to significantly boost Nigeria’s innovation landscape, will provide vital infrastructure and support for startups, serving as a centre for creativity, research, and technological development.
The partnership was formalised with the signing of an agreement for the implementation of the Startup Hub Project, in collaboration with the Chief Consultant, Consortium of Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.
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NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, revealed that the project began with the launch of the iHatch, an initiative designed to co-train and incubate startups, supported with seed funding by JICA.
Inuwa highlighted the importance of ongoing exchange programmes, which not only foster knowledge sharing and skills transfer but also open new avenues for collaboration between innovators in both countries.
“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 stated.
The hub is envisioned as a catalyst for economic growth by nurturing homegrown talent and promoting entrepreneurship.
It will serve as a critical bridge between training and commercialisation, offering a conducive environment for startups to ideate, experiment, and scale their businesses.
It was gathered that the consultants have arrived and are set to begin the preliminary design work, marking the official commencement of the project’s implementation phase.
INCNews247 reports that this initiative is part of a larger $30 million grant agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and JICA for the establishment of Startup Hubs in Abuja.
