Written by Chinenye Anufolo
The Federal Government has announced an exciting vision to position the country as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. This bold aspiration was expressed by Yoshifumi Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), at the closing ceremony of the third batch of iHATCH Startup Incubation Program in Abuja.
The iHATCH program, a collaboration between NITDA and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is a foundational initiative aimed at fostering a dynamic technology ecosystem in Nigeria. Mr. Inuwa emphasized that this partnership is in line with NIITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which focuses on fostering strategic cooperation and innovation on a nationwide scale.
“The iHATCH program is critical to fostering a vibrant ecosystem for startups, empowering the next generation of technology innovators and propelling Nigeria towards becoming a global technology hub,” Inuwa said. said.
He further linked this initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s broader focus on industrialization, digitalization and innovation as key pillars of national development.
Inuwa, in his speech, highlighted the program’s notable achievements, noting that iHATCH’s first two cohorts led to the creation of 179 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs. The success of these cohorts spurred the expansion of the third cohort to five major locations across the country: Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Gombe.
“Our goal is to provide young entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge and support they need to turn innovative ideas into successful, scalable ventures,” Inuwa explained. He also called on the participants to develop a mentoring platform to further support emerging start-ups and urged JICA to consider expanding the program across the country to maximize its impact. did.
The event also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in Nigeria’s technology sector.
Kazuyoshi Matsunaga, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, reaffirmed Japan’s determination to support the development of entrepreneurs in Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange and cooperation between Nigerian and Japanese companies, highlighting the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships.
The Chairman of the Senate ICT Committee, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, commended the dedication of the participants and expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for its continued support to the Nigerian technology ecosystem.
The event also recognized the achievements of program participants, with three startups receiving cash prizes to further develop their businesses. Northinho, founded by Abubakar Umar, was awarded $15,000, Dorpals Technologies was awarded $12,000, and Connected was awarded $10,000.
Mr. Umar expressed his gratitude and commended NIITDA and JICA for their intensive training and support. He emphasized the importance of perseverance in entrepreneurship, saying, “Believe in what you are doing, even if your idea is still in development. If you keep working on the project, one day you will look back and say, “Believe in what you are doing, even if your idea is still in development. You will appreciate how far you have come.”
