In a major boost to Nigeria’s tech and startup landscape, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled plans for an $11.2 million innovation hub in Abuja. Spearheaded by NITDA’s Director-General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the project is a strategic collaboration between Nigeria and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with implementation support from a consortium of Japanese consulting firms—Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.
The hub, funded entirely by a JICA grant, will serve as a dynamic platform for technological advancement, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It will provide infrastructure, mentorship, and resources for startups to transition from ideation to scalable ventures.
This initiative forms part of a broader $30 million grant partnership between JICA and the Nigerian government, which includes a $9.9 million startup hub component managed by NITDA and a $21 million program under the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to support the growth of social startups nationwide.
Speaking at the project’s launch, Abdullahi emphasized that the initiative builds on the existing iHatch programme, a startup incubation and co-training scheme previously launched with JICA’s support. The new innovation hub will provide startups access to makerspaces, prototyping tools, and post-incubation facilities critical for turning ideas into tangible products.
“We’re not just training startups—we’re building an environment where they can thrive,” Abdullahi said. “This grant will enable us to provide both the technical support and the infrastructure needed to help Nigerian innovators succeed on a global stage.”
The project is already gaining momentum, with consultants on the ground and preliminary design work commencing. Once completed, the Abuja innovation hub will serve as a national model—bridging the gap between skills training and commercialization, and fostering a generation of globally competitive tech entrepreneurs.
In addition to physical facilities, the hub will offer access to mentorship, incubation services, and seed funding, helping young businesses overcome the common barriers to scaling. The focus is on long-term ecosystem development—supporting innovation that contributes to economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable growth, aligning with Nigeria’s broader development agenda.
This landmark initiative signals a deepening of Nigeria-Japan relations and a renewed commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. As groundwork progresses, stakeholders are optimistic that the innovation hub will play a transformative role in shaping the future of the country’s digital economy.
