By Saminu Ibrahim
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has laid the foundation stone for the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Abuja, a $10.4 million project designed to promote innovation, empower young entrepreneurs and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
The project is funded through a grant from the Japanese government, facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, Mrs Tinubu described the facility as a significant investment in technological advancement and youth empowerment, expressing hope that it would enable young Nigerians to transform innovative ideas into marketable products and sustainable businesses.
She urged young innovators to take advantage of the opportunities the centre would provide, describing it as a platform for nurturing ideas and developing them into competitive enterprises.
“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, noting that the partnership demonstrated confidence in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and the potential of its youthful population.
She also praised NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa and his team for securing the partnership, saying the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable job creation.
According to her, the hub will serve as a national centre for business incubation, hardware prototyping, research and international collaboration, providing young entrepreneurs with the resources to develop, test and commercialise their ideas.
Mrs Tinubu urged NITDA to ensure that the facility benefits young Nigerians across the country, regardless of their geographical location or background.
She stressed that access to the opportunities offered by the hub should extend beyond Abuja, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs from different parts of the country to participate in the growing digital economy.
The First Lady expressed optimism that the project would contribute to youth empowerment, economic growth and national prosperity, urging stakeholders to ensure that the facility delivers tangible benefits rather than remain a physical structure.
Earlier, Inuwa said the project was designed to provide more than infrastructure, describing it as an investment in the creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youths.
“Today, we are laying the foundation, not just for an innovation hub, but for new enterprises, new opportunities, new partnerships, and a future where our youth ideas can be turned and used to solve our national problems and global challenges,” he said.
The NITDA chief said the initiative supported the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy through digitalisation and innovation while expanding opportunities for Nigerians to participate in national development.
He disclosed that initiatives implemented through NITDA’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) had supported more than 995 startups and contributed to the creation of 7,596 jobs.
He added that 300 companies had received training through a digital export acceleration programme over the past three years.
Inuwa also highlighted the progress of the iHatch programme, jointly developed by NITDA and JICA through ONDI in 2023.
According to him, 333 startups across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were trained between 2025 and early 2026, alongside 74 hub managers.
He further disclosed that NITDA-JICA initiatives, including We Elevate and IgniteHatch, had provided training to 224 women-owned businesses, while 12 founders were sponsored to Japan and one beneficiary secured a $500,000 grant.
To expand access to innovation support, the director-general announced plans to ensure that every state in the country has at least two functional innovation hubs where young entrepreneurs can access incubation programmes and develop market-ready products and services.
He also revealed that JICA was working with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to establish a $50 million seed-funding facility for startups.
The proposed facility, he said, would strengthen entrepreneurship, support job creation and expand opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Inuwa expressed appreciation to the First Lady for laying the foundation stone, pledging NITDA’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Japan to provide Nigerian innovators with the technology, infrastructure and support needed to compete internationally.
Also speaking, Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, said the project reflected more than six decades of bilateral relations between both countries, with increasing cooperation in technology, innovation and human capital development.
Suzuki identified three major areas of Japan’s support for Nigeria’s startup ecosystem: strengthening policies and institutions, supporting early-stage investment and providing infrastructure through the Renewed Hope Startup Hub.
He said the facility would be equipped with modern technology, digital fabrication tools and collaborative spaces to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses, connect with international partners and contribute to economic diversification.
The ambassador added that Japan’s approach focused on supporting businesses over the long term rather than pursuing quick financial returns.
He said the initiative aligned with Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic diversification objectives, as well as Japan’s efforts to promote industrial growth and strengthen economic ties across Africa.
The project is expected to expand access to innovation infrastructure, support the growth of technology-driven businesses and equip young Nigerians with the resources to develop solutions for local and global markets.
