The Federal Government is ramping up efforts to extend technological innovation beyond Nigeria’s key hubs, Lagos and Abuja, by empowering grassroots communities to develop solutions for real-world challenges.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), reaffirmed this commitment during the iHatch Cohort 4 Onsite Training for Hub Managers in Abuja last week.
Lagos remains Nigeria’s dominant startup hub, accounting for nearly 88% of the country’s startups, according to a 2023 global startup ecosystem report by Startup Genome. Abuja follows with approximately 9%, as noted by StartupBlink. However, the government aims to decentralize innovation and create a more inclusive tech ecosystem across the country.
In a statement on Monday, Inuwa emphasized the government’s vision of leveraging digital technology at the grassroots level to drive economic growth, generate employment, and address local challenges.
The training, organized in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, brought together 37 hub managers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative seeks to strengthen local incubation systems, enhance mentorship, foster regional partnerships, and provide global exposure for Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Inuwa highlighted that this expansion aligns with the administration’s economic reform agenda by equipping innovation hubs with the necessary skills to support startups.
“We don’t want technological innovation to be limited to Lagos and Abuja. Our goal is to extend it to the grassroots, where it can address real-life challenges. That’s the vision behind the iHatch initiative,” he stated.
He further revealed that the pilot phase of iHatch, conducted in Abuja, successfully trained 50 startups, resulting in the creation of 179 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs.
“This initiative will bring innovation closer to states and enable startups to develop solutions tailored to specific local challenges in agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and other critical sectors,” he explained.
Inuwa also emphasized that innovation thrives in clusters where stakeholders can exchange ideas and develop solutions collaboratively. He stressed the importance of fostering a strong community, networking, and ecosystem development to sustain the initiative.
“To ensure the longevity of this initiative, we must cultivate a vibrant community where startups, entrepreneurs, and key players can consistently share ideas and collaborate. We don’t just want startups to pass through the programme—we want them to remain engaged within the iHatch ecosystem. Our vision is to scale this initiative to all 774 local government areas in the country,” he added.
