The project, backed by a ¥1.6 billion grant — that’s about $12.1 million or over N18 billion — and is aimed at raising tech entrepreneurs across the country.

The deal was formally signed in Abuja at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, where government officials and Japanese delegates gathered to finalise the agreement. Representing Nigeria was Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, while Mr. Hitoshi Kozaki stood in for Japan.

No long talk — this is about serious business.

This is beyond just a normal handshake in the name of “partnership.” The Japanese money is going into bricks, networks, and brains.

The Abuja innovation hub will rise as a central structure in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem, and it’s not just about the building — it’s about what’s going to happen inside it. Talent will be shaped. Ideas will be tested. Ventures will rise.

Over the next five years and eight months — from April 2025 until December 2030 — the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) will jointly steer the project. The goal is to get young Nigerians to create businesses that can scale beyond Nigeria and rival some of Africa’s top startups.

There’s a clear line from this project to the presidency. President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has been flagged as the backdrop for this initiative, a comprehensive economic blueprint that leans on tech and private sector investment to drive job creation. 

Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, pointed to earlier collaborations with JICA, particularly the iHatch incubation programme, which he described as a concrete example of results.

“We have been collaborating with them on so many initiatives like iHatch. The pilot we did resulted in creating over 117 direct jobs and more than 370 indirect jobs, and now we are working together with them to expand it to all 36 states and the FCT,” he said.

The iHatch programme offers six months of startup incubation, helping teams build real products using Japanese technical support. It’s the kind of targeted intervention that goes beyond workshops and buzzwords. Real ventures. Real jobs.

But it doesn’t stop there.

NITDA and JICA have also been connecting the dots between Nigerian and Japanese innovators. Startups are getting the chance to network, learn, and even showcase their products in Japan — a rare opening in a country where international exposure can be a game-changer.

Women aren’t being left out of the equation either. Last month, both agencies rolled out the “IgniteHer” Entrepreneurship Bootcamp — a five-day intensive in Abuja aimed at giving women founders the tools to break structural barriers and scale their businesses.

There’s a lot on the table. Money, mentorship, access, and infrastructure. What remains is execution.

This initiative, which commenced in October 2024 and runs until January 2025, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s startup sector through capacity-building efforts for startups and innovation hubs across the country.

According to NITDA, the iHatch Cohort 4 programme is set to support 185 startups and 37 innovation hubs nationwide with a mix of mentorship, training, and investment readiness. 

The initiative aligns with the government’s goal to diversify the economy and enable digital innovation under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Director of Corporate Communications at NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, described the initiative as a cornerstone of the agency’s Digital Economy Policy. 

She noted that the programme is structured to provide startups with the tools to develop viable business models and scalable products while enhancing the capacity of innovation hubs to serve as effective incubators for entrepreneurial talent.

By the end of the initiative, it is anticipated that 90% of participating startups will formalise their operations with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). 

Added to this, 80% are expected to create a minimum viable product (MVP) ready for market testing, and 30% will secure funding through grants, partnerships, or investments. The combined efforts of startups and innovation hubs are projected to generate 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The programme seeks to ensure nationwide representation by including participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It also prioritises high-impact sectors such as fintech, agritech, healthtech, edtech, and civic tech, which are critical to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

National Coordinator for the Office of Nigerian Digital Innovation and iHatch Programme Manager, Ms Victoria Fabunmi, highlighted the inclusive nature of the initiative. 

She emphasised that the partnership with JICA and local innovation hubs aims to empower Nigerian entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into impactful enterprises while promoting a rich and inclusive digital economy.

The iHatch Cohort 4 initiative includes tailored training sessions for innovation hubs to strengthen their capacity to provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and funding access for startups. 

A “Demo Day” will serve as a platform for startups to pitch their ideas to investors, fostering opportunities for funding and strategic partnerships.

The programme also promotes international collaboration, providing exposure for startups and innovation hub managers to scale their innovations on a global stage. 

NITDA has encouraged interested startups and innovation hubs to apply through the official iHatch website to benefit from the programme’s offerings.

While NITDA leads policy formulation and regulatory efforts, JICA provides technical and financial support for developmental initiatives.

Building on the achievements of previous iHatch cohorts, this latest edition aims to further position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation. 

In enhancing innovation and supporting scalable enterprises, iHatch Cohort 4 promotes technology as a driver of economic growth and development.

This is in further consolidation of NITDA’s commitment to sustaining the promotion and growth of Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a digital Nigeria.

The iHatch programme is aimed at increasing the number of Innovation-Driven Enterprises by Nigerian youths and serving as one of the driving forces to place Nigeria as a leading entrepreneurial country in Africa.

The first cohort of the iHatch startup incubation programme, which is ongoing at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) Abuja, Nigeria, is expected to end in July 2022. 

The iHatch is a 5-month free intensive incubation programme designed to help Nigerian entrepreneurs refine their business ideas through a series of coaching, lectures, and bootcamps to generate scalable company models in the country.

Benefits

Startups will receive free online/offline interactive lectures with experienced mentors, free workspace, mentorship meetings with tech professionals, pitch deck enhancement, and networking opportunities during this programme.

Therefore, ONDI is calling for applications from eligible individuals/groups with an innovative business plan, product, or prototype that would help solve national problems across all sectors as well as prosperity for the country.

How to apply

Are you interested in participating in the iHatch Incubation Programme? Apply before the deadline on Saturday, July 16, 2022.