Nigeria and Japan Plan $11.2M Startup Hub to Boost Innovation in Abuja

In a significant move to accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),  Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, met with senior officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)  during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). The discussions in Tokyo on August 22, 2025, focused on advancing collaborations to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

Central to the discussions was a proposed $11.2 million Startup Hub in Abuja, envisioned as a center of excellence for innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the parties discussed a $20 million early-stage technology startup fund from JICA, which will be matched by a $20 million contribution from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). These joint initiatives, consistent with the Nigeria Startup Act, are designed to provide startups with the necessary resources to scale, create jobs, and drive economic transformation.

The Director General commended JICA for its unwavering support for Nigeria’s innovation journey, emphasizing the country’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that create opportunities for its youth. In a separate engagement, Mr. Abdullahi met with Satoshi Shimoda, a senior writer at Nikkei, to highlight Nigeria’s vibrant startup landscape, the importance of policy reforms like the Nigeria Startup Act, and the immense potential of its youth-driven innovation ecosystem. The DG also visited the Tokyo Innovation Base to explore opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaboration between Nigerian and Japanese startups.