GRASSROOT INNOVATION: In sync with president Tinubu’s agenda of Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth and Accelerating Diversification through Industrialization and Digitization, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced the plans to expand the “Hub Managers” training programme nationwide.
Speaking at the iHatch Cohort 4 Onsite Training in Abuja, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasized the agency’s commitment to taking technological innovation beyond major cities like Lagos and Abuja to the grassroots.
“We don’t want technological innovation to be concentrated only in Lagos and Abuja. We want to take it to the grassroots and use it to solve real-life problems. That is why we designed the iHatch initiative,” Inuwa stated.
Grassroot Innovation
The iHatch programme, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), aims to empower grassroot innovation hubs across all 36 states and the FCT. The goal is to strengthen local incubation systems, develop regional startup ecosystems, and provide access to global best practices.
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Following a successful pilot phase in Abuja, which trained 50 startups and created 179 direct jobs, the nationwide expansion is projected to generate 740 direct jobs and 7,400 indirect jobs before the end of the year. The initiative also aligns with the Nigeria Startup Act, which provides legal and financial incentives for startups.
Inuwa called on participants to champion innovation in their states, ensuring that startups continue to thrive within the iHatch ecosystem. “We at NITDA are proud to walk this journey with you. Let’s keep building, let’s keep innovating, and let’s continue to shape the future of Nigeria, one innovation at a time,” he urged.
