The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has said Nigeria’s collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is propelling the nation’s technology innovation and startup ecosystem to new heights.
He made this known at the closing ceremony of the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms, organised by AGROVESTO, a JICA-funded agritech startup and beneficiary of NITDA’s iHatch Incubation Programme (Cohort 2). Inuwa, who was represented by Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji, Deputy Director, e-Government and Digital Economy Development Department, described the partnership as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.
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Nigeria’s Startup Ecosystem Gaining Global Competitiveness
According to Inuwa, Nigeria now boasts one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, with young entrepreneurs using technology to solve local challenges with global implications. “Nigeria is home to over 200 fintech startups revolutionising financial services, fostering inclusion, and empowering millions,” he said, citing Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga as success stories.
Highlighting the role of iHatch—a joint incubation and acceleration programme by NITDA and JICA—the DG explained that it provides training, mentorship, seed funding, and ecosystem support to budding startups across multiple sectors.
He further stressed that the Nigeria Startup Act has created incentives to ease barriers for innovators. These include tax holidays, simplified registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), government-backed grants, innovation hubs, technology parks, and regulatory sandboxes.
“These interventions are designed to stimulate investment, nurture talent, and position Nigerian startups for global competitiveness,” Inuwa stated, while urging stakeholders, from government to investors, to continue supporting the ecosystem.
“Through strategic partnerships such as the one we enjoy with JICA, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, inclusive development, and global competitiveness. Nigerian innovations will not only solve local challenges but inspire the world,” he concluded.
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Also speaking, the Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Mr Ishigame Kenji, commended AGROVESTO for their dedication and creativity, urging them to expand their initiative to reach more farmers across the country.
Earlier, AGROVESTO Co-founder and CEO, Bayo Adewoye, applauded Nigerian farmers for their resilience and contribution to national food security.
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