First Lady lays foundation for Abuja innovation hub as Japan backs Nigeria’s digital economy; NITDA targets two innovation hubs in every state.
By Chioma Vivian James | Abuja
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has led efforts to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem with the laying of the foundation stone for the $10.4 million Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Abuja, a project supported by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The facility is designed to provide young Nigerian entrepreneurs with access to technology incubation, hardware prototyping, research and international business partnerships, helping them transform innovative ideas into market-ready products and sustainable businesses.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Tinubu described the project as a significant investment in technological advancement, youth empowerment and digital inclusion.
She urged young Nigerians to seize the opportunities the hub would provide, stressing that it should enable innovators to transform simple ideas into practical solutions capable of competing in global markets.
“You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space,” she said.
The First Lady commended the Japanese government and JICA for supporting the project, describing the partnership as a demonstration of confidence in Nigeria’s youthful population and growing digital ecosystem.
She also praised NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and his team for facilitating the initiative, noting that the hub aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable job creation.
Mrs Tinubu urged NITDA to ensure that young Nigerians across the country could benefit from the facility, regardless of their geographical location or background.
Earlier, Abdullahi said the hub would create opportunities for young people to turn their creativity into businesses and develop solutions to national and global challenges.
He disclosed that NITDA was working towards establishing at least two functional innovation hubs in every state to expand access to incubation programmes, technology and entrepreneurial support.
According to him, initiatives implemented through the agency’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) have supported more than 995 startups and contributed to 7,596 jobs, while 300 companies received training through a digital export acceleration programme over three years.
He added that the iHatch programme, developed by NITDA and JICA in 2023, trained 333 startups across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2025 and early 2026, alongside 74 innovation hub managers.
Abdullahi also highlighted programmes supporting women entrepreneurs, disclosing that 224 women-owned enterprises had received training, 12 founders had been sponsored to Japan, and one beneficiary had secured a $500,000 grant.
He further revealed that JICA was collaborating with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority to establish a proposed $50 million seed-funding facility for startups, aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and job creation in the digital economy.
Also speaking, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, said the project reflected the longstanding diplomatic relationship between both countries and their growing cooperation in technology, innovation and human capital development.
He explained that Japan’s support focused on strengthening policies and institutions, encouraging early-stage investment and providing modern infrastructure for entrepreneurs.
The Renewed Hope Startup Hub is expected to improve access to innovation facilities, strengthen international partnerships and create new opportunities for Nigerian youths to develop competitive businesses and contribute to economic growth.
