NITDA DG Calls for Japanese Collaboration in Youth Development
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NITDA DG Calls for Japanese Collaboration in Youth Development
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
In line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to creating opportunities for Nigerian youths, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has urged the Japanese government to establish strategic talent partnerships for youth development.
This call was made during the Ihatch startup incubation program, organized by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Abuja.
Inuwa said the ONDI’s 5-month incubation program, held at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), designed to refine tech entrepreneurs’ ideas and foster scalable business models focusing on youth, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology.
He added that the incubation programme will be held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Gombe, and Kano and JICA has agreed to extend the Fourth Cohort across each of the 36 States and the FCT.
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For the Second Cohort, out of 1,218 applications, 8 startups were selected through a rigorous process assessing criteria such as profitability, scalability, social impact, and innovation. The Third Cohort received 11,183 applications, with 8 startups chosen based on similar criteria.
Inuwa emphasized the success of previous cohorts, with 16 startups achieving significant milestones in job creation, funding, and valuable partnerships across sectors like agriculture, health, education, and e-commerce.
Acknowledging the impact of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), Inuwa affirmed the agency’s dedication to collaborating with stakeholders to accelerate innovation and job creation.
Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, represented by National Coordinator, National Talent Export Programme, Dr Femi Adeluyi, praised NITDA’s initiatives at the Digital Nigeria International Conference, emphasizing the importance of technology in all aspects of life.
She commended JICA’s contributions to the tech ecosystem.
Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, represented by Yuzurio Susumu Chief of Nigeria Office, applauded Nigerian startups’ creativity and resilience in tackling critical social issues.
He acknowledged the administration’s recognition of startups as catalysts for economic diversification.
The top three startups at the event, Fundus AI, Reno, and Ilim Tutors, received cash prizes of $15,000.00, $12,000.00, and $10,000.00, respectively.
