FG Strengthens Push for Tech Innovation Beyond Lagos, Abuja

The Federal Government is ramping up efforts to extend technological innovation beyond Nigeria’s key hubs—Lagos and Abuja—by empowering grassroots communities to create solutions for real-world challenges.

Speaking at the iHatch Cohort 4 Onsite Training for Hub Managers in Abuja last week, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, reaffirmed this commitment.

Currently, Lagos dominates Nigeria’s startup scene, hosting nearly 88% of the country’s startups, according to a 2023 global startup ecosystem report by Startup Genome. Abuja follows with around 9%, as per StartupBlink. However, the government is focused on decentralizing innovation to build a more inclusive tech ecosystem nationwide.

In a statement released on Monday, the NITDA Director-General reaffirmed the government’s commitment to harnessing digital technology at the grassroots level to spur economic growth, create jobs, and address local challenges.

The training program, 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.

This initiative aims to strengthen local incubation systems, enhance mentorship capabilities, promote regional collaborations, and offer global exposure to Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Inuwa highlighted that the expansion aligns with the administration’s commitment to economic reform and inclusive growth by equipping innovation hubs with the skills needed to support startups.

“We don’t want technological innovation to be limited to Lagos and Abuja. Our goal is to bring it to the grassroots and use it to address real-world challenges. That’s why we launched the iHatch initiative,” he stated.

He revealed that the pilot phase of iHatch, conducted in Abuja, successfully trained 50 startups, leading to the creation of 179 direct jobs and more than 1,500 indirect jobs.

“This initiative will localize innovation across states, enabling startups to tackle real-life issues in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and other areas specific to their regions,” he added.

Emphasizing that innovation flourishes in collaborative environments, the NITDA DG underscored the need for strong networks, partnerships, and ecosystem development.

“To ensure the sustainability of this initiative, we must foster a thriving community where startups, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders can exchange ideas and collaborate. Our vision is not just for startups to go through the program but to remain within the iHatch ecosystem. Ultimately, we aim to expand this initiative to all 774 local government areas in the country,” Inuwa explained.