The authorities of Japan by means of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dedicated $10.4 million to assist to assist the enlargement of innovation hubs across Nigeria.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this through the basis laying ceremony of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Abuja.
According to Abdullahi, JICA was additionally working with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to set up a $50 million seed-funding facility for startups, to assist strengthen entrepreneurship, create jobs within the digital financial system and expand alternatives for Nigerian youths.
Japan targets startup financing, infrastructure
Speaking on the occasion, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, mentioned Japan’s assist for Nigeria’s startup ecosystem rests on three pillars: strengthening insurance policies and establishments, supporting early stage funding, and offering infrastructure by means of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub.
- “This hub will present entrepreneurs with the state-of-the-art services and gear wanted to rework uncooked concepts into viable companies. It will function a sanctuary for innovation, a dynamic house geared up with digital fabrication instruments, and collaborative areas the place entrepreneurs can flip their desires into actuality, join with world companions and drive Nigeria’s financial diversification,’’ he mentioned.
Suzuki added that Japan’s method to supporting startups focuses on nurturing companies over the long run moderately than pursuing fast monetary exits.
The partnership displays efforts by each international locations to deepen cooperation in expertise, innovation and human capital improvement, constructing on greater than six many years of diplomatic relations.
NITDA reviews 995 startups supported
Abdullahi additionally mentioned initiatives by means of NITDA’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) have supported greater than 995 startups and created 7,596 jobs.
He mentioned 300 firms had acquired coaching by means of a digital export acceleration programme over the previous three years.
- The NITDA chief additional highlighted the enlargement of the iHatch programme, collectively developed by NITDA and JICA by means of ONDI in 2023.
- According to him, the programme educated 333 startups across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2025 and early 2026, alongside 74 innovation hub managers.
- He additionally cited the We Elevate and IgniteHatch initiatives, which goal ladies entrepreneurs. Through the programmes, 224 ladies owned enterprises had acquired coaching, whereas 12 founders have been sponsored to Japan. One beneficiary additionally secured a grant price $500,000.
The figures spotlight the vary of startup assist initiatives being applied by means of the NITDA and JICA partnership, masking incubation, enterprise improvement, digital exports and entry to worldwide alternatives.
NITDA targets two innovation hubs in each state
Abdullahi mentioned NITDA was working to be sure that each state in Nigeria has at the least two functioning innovation hubs the place younger entrepreneurs can entry incubation programmes and develop their concepts into market-ready services and products.
He mentioned the target was to widen entry to entrepreneurial assist past main expertise centres and allow extra younger Nigerians to take part within the digital financial system.
The Renewed Hope Startup Hub is predicted to function a nationwide centre for incubation, {hardware} prototyping, analysis and worldwide enterprise collaboration.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who laid the muse stone for the ability, urged NITDA to be sure that younger individuals may entry its companies no matter their location or background.
She mentioned the hub ought to present sensible alternatives for innovators to develop prototypes, set up companies and take their merchandise into worldwide markets.
- “You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space,” she mentioned.
Tinubu additionally referred to as on stakeholders to be sure that the ability delivers tangible alternatives for younger entrepreneurs moderately than changing into merely a bodily construction.
