The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered a landmark agreement with a Japanese-led consortium to implement the Startup Hub Project, a major initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. The consortium comprising Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd., Intem Consulting Inc., and Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd. is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
This partnership follows an MoU signed on April 10, 2025, between Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and JICA’s Chief Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Yuzurio Susumu.
Startup Hub Project
The project features two key components: an $11.2 million Startup Hub under the leadership of NITDA and a $40 million social startup support program to be managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). Together, the initiatives aim to foster innovation, build digital infrastructure, and provide collaborative spaces for entrepreneurs.
NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, lauded the collaboration, citing the successful iHatch program which previously generated over 117 direct jobs and 370 indirect opportunities. He noted the project’s alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing its potential to accelerate economic diversification and enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global tech landscape.