Photo of the DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (middle), signing the agreement document to commence the project on the establishment of the Startup Hub in Abuja
The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of a transformative $11.2 million innovation hub in Abuja. The initiative, led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and supported by a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), aims to accelerate inclusive growth through technology and innovation.
Announced by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, the project represents a key milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its startup ecosystem. The hub is part of a broader bilateral partnership between Nigeria and Japan to deepen technological cooperation and build sustainable, innovation-led enterprises.
“This innovation hub will provide a world-class platform for startups to turn their ideas into commercially viable products,” Inuwa stated during the official agreement signing ceremony. “With JICA’s support, we are not only training entrepreneurs , we are equipping them with tools, environment, and financing needed to thrive in a competitive global market.”
The DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (left) and the Chief Consultant of the project, Teruyasu Ezure (right) with the signed agreement
The agreement includes collaboration with top Japanese consultancy firms, Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co. Ltd. These firms will oversee the technical and design phases of the project.
The Abuja hub is one component of a wider $30 million Nigeria-Japan cooperation program for startup development. Under this framework, $9.9 million is allocated to the Abuja hub through NITDA, while another $21 million, managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will support social innovation hubs across the country.
The initiative builds on the iHatch program , a startup incubation scheme jointly launched by NITDA and JICA, which offers training and seed funding to early-stage tech ventures. The innovation hub will expand on this by providing advanced infrastructure such as makerspaces, labs, co-working spaces, and access to mentorship and funding.
According to Inuwa, the hub will act as a “bridge between training and commercialisation,” helping young Nigerian innovators scale their solutions and contribute to job creation and economic diversification. “It’s about building a complete innovation ecosystem , one that can unlock Nigeria’s potential as Africa’s digital powerhouse,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure, the hub is also expected to foster stronger ties between Nigeria and Japan’s tech communities through exchange programmes, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and joint innovation efforts.
As work on the project officially begins, stakeholders see the innovation hub as a beacon for youth-driven entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and industrial transformation , all crucial to achieving Nigeria’s long-term economic resilience and global competitiveness.
