The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commenced efforts to standardize innovation hubs across Nigeria as part of measures to decentralize the country’s technology ecosystem and create more opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and startups outside major technology centres such as Lagos and Abuja.

The agency disclosed this at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Technical Validation Workshop held on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.

The workshop brought together innovation hub owners, investors, development partners, government representatives and other stakeholders to review and validate the proposed National Innovation Hub Standards Framework.

Speaking at the event, NITDA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the framework as a major step towards ensuring that innovation is more evenly distributed across the country.

According to him, innovation thrives within an ecosystem and such ecosystems must be deliberately designed and strengthened to enable innovators to transform ideas into impactful businesses.

“Today for me marks a remarkable milestone in our journey of making innovation to be evenly distributed in Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.

He explained that innovation hubs have increasingly become important orchestrators of technology ecosystems, providing spaces where innovators, students and entrepreneurs can develop ideas, access support and move their solutions from conception to market.

The NITDA boss said the proposed framework was not intended to be prescriptive, but rather to provide guidance that would help hubs assess their capabilities, identify gaps and develop pathways towards maturity.

He noted that Nigeria has more than 339 innovation hubs, but that many of them are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and a handful of other states.

Abdullahi said the uneven distribution of hubs and ecosystem support meant that talented Nigerians in other parts of the country were often forced to travel to established technology centres to access opportunities.

He stressed that every state has its own pool of talent, challenges and economic strengths that could be harnessed to develop locally relevant innovations.

“We don’t need to build Yaba Tech everywhere. Every state is unique. We can look at the problems around each state and the strengths of each state to build on that,” he said.

The framework, he added, would provide hubs with a pathway for growth and maturity through seven key dimensions and about 35 assessment categories, enabling operators to understand their current position and identify areas requiring improvement.

Kashifu urged stakeholders participating in the validation exercise to provide constructive feedback, stressing that the document was an initial draft rather than a final framework.

He also called for stronger collaboration between innovation hubs, government, investors, large corporations, development partners and academic institutions.

According to him, the ecosystem requires talent, entrepreneurs, risk-capital providers and large corporate organisations that can provide markets for innovative products, while government should focus on creating the right policies and enabling environment.

He particularly identified the weak connection between academia and industry as one of the major gaps in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

The NITDA DG disclosed that the Federal Government was already working with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into formal education, with the aim of producing graduates equipped with the capabilities required to build and scale businesses.

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said Nigeria had developed a clear understanding of the role technology must play in transforming the economy and improving the competitiveness of different sectors.

Tijani said technology was critical to the development of sectors including agriculture, education and healthcare, adding that Nigeria’s digital transformation strategy could be understood through three interconnected layers.

He identified the first as the foundational layer, comprising infrastructure such as fibre-optic networks, satellites, telecommunications towers and data centres.

The second, he explained, was the technology stack, which includes systems such as digital identity, data exchange and interbank settlement infrastructure that allow innovators to build solutions.

The third layer, he said, comprises the applications and businesses created by innovators to solve societal and economic problems.

Tijani cited Nigeria’s telecommunications liberalisation, the development of the interbank settlement system and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) as examples of foundational and middle-layer investments that helped create an environment for the emergence of a strong fintech ecosystem.

He argued that Nigeria’s success in producing technology unicorns was partly linked to deliberate government and industry investment in the infrastructure and systems that enabled innovators to build at scale.

The minister said the Federal Government was now intensifying investment in the digital foundation, including plans to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure.

According to him, the project, which is expected to commence in October, will significantly expand broadband connectivity across the country.

He added that the government was also planning to deploy about 3,700 telecommunications towers in underserved communities, noting that more than 20 million Nigerians still live in areas without adequate telecommunications access.

Tijani further highlighted the importance of Nigeria’s communication satellite in reaching locations where terrestrial infrastructure would be difficult to deploy, while noting ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s identity infrastructure and other digital systems.

However, the minister stressed that investment in infrastructure and digital platforms would not achieve its full potential without corresponding investment in the innovation hubs and community spaces where entrepreneurs develop their ideas.

Drawing from his previous experience in the technology ecosystem, Tijani said innovation hubs require adequate resources to recruit skilled personnel capable of providing quality support to entrepreneurs.

He cited CcHub as an example of what could be achieved when innovation ecosystems receive the necessary support, arguing that improving the quality of hubs across Nigeria could unlock new technology companies and entrepreneurs from different parts of the country.

“If we have all the hubs in Nigeria at the same level of quality as CcHub, or let’s say 50%, there’ll be more tech companies not just from Lagos, but from across the country,” he said.

Tijani said strengthening hubs in states such as Uyo, Calabar and other emerging technology centres could help create businesses, generate employment and expand Nigeria’s tax base.

He maintained that building a larger and more diversified economy would require Nigeria to support technology-driven businesses capable of operating beyond the traditional oil and gas sector.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Victoria Fabumi, described the proposed framework as an instrument for strengthening the capacity of innovation hubs to support startups.

Fabumi likened startups to “babies” that require nurturing, while describing innovation hubs as the “mothers” responsible for providing the support necessary for their growth.

She said the framework was designed to strengthen the hubs so they could provide entrepreneurs with the required support to develop sustainable businesses and deliver impact at scale.

According to her, the framework would also help ensure that innovation is no longer concentrated in urban centres but becomes more widespread across the country.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would help produce innovative solutions from states such as Zamfara, Yobe, Osun and Jigawa, among others, thereby contributing to the Federal Government’s economic development agenda.

The validation workshop therefore marked another step in NITDA’s efforts to build a more coordinated, inclusive and mature innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, with stakeholders expected to contribute their expertise towards refining the framework before its final adoption and implementation.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has entered into a strategic partnership with Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) to provide subsidised sovereign cloud services to startups participating in the iHatch programme.

The collaboration is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem by promoting data sovereignty, enhancing digital inclusion, and accelerating the growth of indigenous innovation. Under the agreement, startups in the programme will be onboarding onto the Galaxy Cloud Platform (GxCP), a sovereign cloud infrastructure backed by Uptime-certified Tier III and Tier IV data centres, a nationwide fibre network, and advanced cybersecurity systems.

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the initiative underscores the agency’s commitment to building a resilient and globally competitive startup ecosystem by expanding access to critical digital infrastructure.

On his part, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GBB, Ibrahim Adeyanju, stated that the partnership will enable startups to leverage secure, enterprise-grade cloud services at subsidised rates, while hosting data locally to reinforce Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.

Adeyanju explained that the initiative will adopt a tiered, milestone-based model, with cloud credits released across the “Build, Validate, and Scale” phases of a startup’s development. The credits will remain valid for 12 months, after which beneficiaries will transition to standard or pay-as-you-go billing.

To support implementation, GBB has established a dedicated Startup Success Team to drive adoption, alongside automated usage monitoring systems designed to optimise resource utilisation. In addition, all post-credit billing will be conducted in Nigerian naira to shield startups from foreign exchange volatility.

General Manager of Strategic Partnerships at GBB, Abdul Malik Suleiman, described the initiative as a strategic move to bridge the gap between infrastructure and innovation.

Also speaking, National Coordinator of ONDI, Victoria Fabunmi, noted that integrating GBB’s sovereign cloud services into the iHatch programme would significantly enhance startups’ capacity to scale and compete globally.

The iHatch programme has so far trained over 160 startups across 37 hub partners, with the new partnership expected to further accelerate innovation and growth within Nigeria’s digital economy.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has underscored the critical role of data in driving a sustainable digital economy. At the just concluded 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, the agency emphasised the need for safe and responsible data utilisation.

NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who was represented by the Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions Department, Mr Oladejo Olawumi, highlighted the importance of data sovereignty in ensuring Nigeria’s digital future. By prioritising data security and privacy, the agency aims to foster a thriving digital ecosystem that benefits both individuals and businesses.

The Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, organised by NITDA’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), showcased the talent and innovation of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs. The event further reinforced the agency’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant digital community and empowering the next generation of tech leaders.

While stating that the event aligns with the agency’s pillars of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, Inuwa mentioned that the event underscores NITDA’s vision to position Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy, creating opportunities for innovators to thrive in an ever-changing technological landscape.

“The issue of having something home-grown is very important because when it comes to data, you would realize that Data is the currency of the digital economy. It is what is driving us now and everything is all about data,” he added.

Speaking of the relevance of the event which speaks to pillars; Robust Technological Research Ecosystem, Foster Digital Literacy and Cultivate Talents, Nurture an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, and Promote Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services of the SRAP document, he urged the participants to take advantage of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) in promoting their solutions.

“The Nigeria Startup Act enables you to get proper funding to develop what you want to do, and it allows you to meet with angel investors to see how you can be encouraged and bring what you are ideating to the limelight,” he noted.

While stating the agency’s commitment to ensuring that Indigenous digital innovation thrives, Inuwa disclosed that “Innovation Nests” will be created by the agency in 3 states with plans to expand to 6 more by the end of year and stated that the nests are designed to inspire creativity, featuring facilities for work, leisure, and networking with investors.

“These centres will be world-class, offering spaces to relax, collaborate, and attract global investment,” Inuwa explained.

“Whether you win today or not, this platform is a step towards achieving your dreams. Nigeria has the talent, and NITDA is here to ensure that talent is nurtured and celebrated,” he concluded.

Earlier in her opening remark, the National Coordinator of the ONDI, Ms Victoria Fabunmi stated that the event was designed to spotlight groundbreaking ideas and foster collaboration in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

While emphasising the agency’s commitment to advancing digital innovations through strategic initiatives, she averred that the innovation challenge aligns with the agency’s SRAP and fulfilling the Ministry’s blueprint pillars of Knowledge, Innovation, and Policy.

“Participants have an opportunity to showcase their ingenious ideas, as they have spent months looking through infrastructure across the country and helping us to identify areas for opportunity as well as areas for strengthening our innovation ecosystem”, she stated.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has announced the launch of iHatch Cohort 4, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. Set to run from October 2024 to January 2025, the program will provide targeted support to 185 startups and 37 innovation hubs across Nigeria.

This initiative is part of NITDA’s Digital Economy Policy, which aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. It focuses on fostering economic diversification, creating jobs, and driving Nigeria’s digital economy by empowering startups with tailored mentorship, training, and investment readiness.

Building the Future of Entrepreneurship
The iHatch Cohort 4 program is uniquely designed to benefit both startups and innovation hubs. Startups will receive the tools and mentorship needed to refine business models, develop scalable products, and connect with potential investors.

Meanwhile, innovation hubs will enhance their capacity to serve as sustainable incubators for local entrepreneurs, ensuring long-term ecosystem growth.

“iHatch Cohort 4 will accelerate the growth of the startup ecosystem across Nigeria by equipping innovators with the knowledge, resources, and funding they need to turn their ideas into impactful businesses,” said Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the Office of Nigerian Digital Innovation.

“Through our partnership with JICA and local innovation hubs, we are building a more inclusive and vibrant digital economy in Nigeria.”

Programme Highlights
The program’s comprehensive features include:

Nationwide Reach: Support for startups across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Sectoral Focus: Special attention to startups in fintech, agritech, healthtech, logistics, edtech, and civic tech, with tailored support for innovation and scalability.

Capacity Building for Hubs: Training for innovation hubs to enhance mentorship, facilities, networking, and funding access.

Demo Day and Investment Opportunities: A platform for startups to pitch their ideas to investors and stakeholders, aiming for funding and partnerships.

Targeted Outcomes
The program has ambitious goals, including:

• Incorporation of 90% of participating startups with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
• Development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) by 80% of startups.
• Securing investments for 30% of startups.
• Creation of 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.
• Sustainability for 70% of startups six months post-program.

A Transformational Initiative for Nigeria
iHatch Cohort 4 is a key step in actualizing Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

By focusing on innovation-driven enterprises (IDEs), the program aims to address local challenges while boosting Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the digital sector. It also complements the Nigerian Startup Act by fostering a supportive environment for entrepreneurs.

Call to Action
Applications for startups and innovation hubs are now open! Innovators and ecosystem builders are encouraged to apply at programs.startup.gov.ng/ihatch and follow NITDANigeria and ONDINigeria on social media for updates.

About NITDA
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is committed to driving Nigeria’s IT sector through policies, standards, and initiatives that foster a sustainable digital economy.

About JICA
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) supports global development through financial and technical assistance, with a mission to promote economic growth and sustainability worldwide.

For media inquiries, contact:
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, fnipr, f.apra
Director, Corporate Communications and Media Relations, NITDA.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has taken a significant step towards driving the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) with the inauguration of a Startup Labelling Committee. The committee, inaugurated by Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, comprises representatives from both the public and private sectors.

The NSA, enacted on October 19th, 2022, established a legal and institutional framework to foster the development and growth of Nigerian startups. A critical provision within the Act is the Startup Label. This label recognises eligible startups, granting them access to the various benefits outlined in the NSA.

The issuance of the Startup Label hinges on a thorough assessment and validation process to ensure a startup meets the eligibility criteria as defined by the Act. The newly formed committee will play a pivotal role in overseeing this process.

In his address at the inauguration ceremony, Inuwa emphasised on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s unwavering dedication to fostering an environment conducive to the growth and success of young Nigerian innovators.

He acknowledged the pivotal role startups will play in propelling the nation’s economic development, and the significance of the committee’s work in nurturing and supporting these enterprises.

He elaborated on the various initiatives and support mechanisms the government plans to implement, aimed at reducing hurdles and providing financial assistance and mentorship opportunities to young entrepreneurs.

Inuwa expressed optimism about the future, asserting that with the right support, these budding innovators could transform their ideas into thriving enterprises, thus contributing significantly to job creation and the overall economic prosperity of Nigeria in line with President Tinubu’s priority area to “reform the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth.”

He urged stakeholders to join hands in creating a robust ecosystem that would empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to flourish and contribute to the country’s progress.

Inuwa added that the committee will be instrumental in establishing a robust legal and institutional framework for the successful implementation of the Startup Act. Their collaborative efforts will ensure a participatory approach that benefits all stakeholders within the Nigerian startup ecosystem.

“The composition of the committee reflects the emphasis on collaboration. Representatives from government agencies, industry experts, investors, and startup founders will bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to the table.

This collaborative approach is expected to lead to a more efficient and effective labelling process, ultimately benefiting the growth of Nigerian startups,” he stated.

Speaking on the roles and responsibilities of Committee, the National Coordinator, Office for Nigeria Digital Innovation, Victoria Fabunmi, listed the terms of reference for the advisory committee which include the following:

Review and evaluate start-ups’ applications for label based on criteria defined in the Act and any additional criteria that may ensure quality for the label; Periodically review and update additional labelling criteria to ensure alignment with industry trends; Conduct an impartial evaluation of submitted applications for Startup Label.

Furthermore, the Committee will Recommend on issuance or otherwise of Startup Label based on defined criteria; Provide feedback/comments/recommendations on areas of improvement where a start-up’s application is rejected; Where necessary, dedicate time to further engage startups for more clarity/details on information provided.

It will also periodically review its previous activities and data on labelling, to identify/recommend opportunities and gaps (e.g. DEI, sectors, capacity etc.) that policymakers may need to place added emphasis on; Periodically review workload capacity and recommend a fair ceiling for the number of applications to be considered per period. This is in consideration of the fact that the Committee is not a full-time position; and Members shall be subject to a Code of Conduct and must duly sign this prior to commencement of duties.

She also stated that the Labelling Committee comprises Nine (9) members from the following: Four (4) Representatives of Incubators (ISN Rep, North and South); Two (2) Representatives of the Public Sector (NITDA, NSIA); Two (2) Representative of the Civil Society’ and Portal Coordinator – to serve as Secretary.

The inauguration of the Startup Labelling Committee marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act. With a multi-stakeholder committee guiding the process, the Act has the potential to unlock the immense potential of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic development.

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