The Abuja Start-up Hub could help spread innovation across regions, bridging the digital divide and boosting Nigeria’s participation in the tech economy

On April 10, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) announced it had signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to establish the Abuja Start-up Hub, backed by a JPY 1.6 billion (USD 12.1 million) grant.

Speaking at the event, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive innovation and economic diversification.

The signing ceremony, held at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Abuja, marks a new chapter in Japan–Nigeria bilateral cooperation, with a focus on fostering digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.

Spanning five years and eight months, from April 2025 to December 2030, the Abuja Start-up Hub will be jointly implemented by NITDA and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The hub is envisioned as a launchpad for a new generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs capable of building scalable ventures and potentially becoming Africa’s next tech unicorns.

The partnership taps into Nigeria’s large and rapidly growing talent pool, which holds immense potential to drive technological progress and digital transformation. According to a 2022 report by NITDA and Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) titled "IT Talent Gap Assessment in Nigeria," roughly one-third of the country’s population aged 15 to 35 comprises a tech-savvy, innovation-driven demographic eager to embrace emerging technologies. This initiative creates a critical pathway to harness and nurture that potential through structured support, skills development, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Hikmatu Bilali