In a bid to decentralise Nigeria’s innovation landscape and boost youth entrepreneurship, Benue State has launched its first official startup portal designed to identify, register, and support emerging tech businesses across the state.
The platform, developed by the Benue Digital Innovation Centre (BDIC) with backing from the state government, aims to provide a single window where founders can access mentorship, funding opportunities, and business development resources tailored to the local ecosystem.
Unveiling the portal in Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia said the initiative would help nurture the talent of Benue’s young innovators and connect them to wider markets. He noted that while Nigeria’s startup scene is often dominated by Lagos and Abuja, states like Benue hold untapped potential that needs to be harnessed.
“Our young people have creative ideas that can address real challenges in agriculture, health, and education, but they often lack the support to scale,” Governor Alia said. “This portal will bridge that gap, ensuring they have the tools to grow and create jobs.”
The startup portal is a key component of the state’s broader plan to stimulate the local tech ecosystem and build a pipeline of investable businesses. According to the BDIC, the portal will also serve as a data repository for mapping startups and their growth stages — an important step towards policy planning and attracting investors.
Startups that sign up will have access to online and offline training, workshops, demo days, and matchmaking sessions with angel investors and development partners. Tech Digest understands that there are also plans to roll out community-based innovation hubs in rural areas to ensure more inclusive participation.
Industry watchers say the initiative reflects a wider shift as more Nigerian states look to homegrown tech and digital skills as pathways for economic diversification and youth empowerment.
By establishing this new portal, Benue State joins a growing list of subnational governments taking practical steps to support local founders and unlock the creative economy outside traditional urban tech hubs.
