*Nigerian First Lady (Senator) Oluremi Tinubu describes the Renewed Hope Startup Hub, in Abuja, as a landmark investment in technological advancement, youth empowerment, and digital inclusion in the West African country
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Nigerian First Lady (Senator) Oluremi Tinubu has laid the foundation stone for the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Abuja, FCT.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the digital project as a landmark investment in technological advancement, youth empowerment, and digital inclusion in the West African country.
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ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Government’s proposed Renewed Hope Startup Hub is financed through a $10.4 million grant from the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
First Lady challenges young innovators to build competitive startups for global market space
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, the First Lady said the facility should allow young innovators to turn their ideas into practical solutions and competitive businesses in Nigeria and beyond.
She also challenged the youths to take advantage of the opportunities the hub would provide.
First Lady Tinubu also described the centre as a place where young Nigerians could nurture their ambitions and develop them into viable enterprises.
“You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space,” she said.
Senator Tinubu as well acknowledged the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for providing the strategic grant that made the tech project possible.
According to her, the partnership reflects a shared belief in the untapped potential of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and its vibrant youth population.
Commendation for NITDA leadership
The Nigerian First Lady especially applauded Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, and his team for securing the landmark partnership with JICA.
She said that the establishment of startup hubs across the country aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA).
The Agenda, stated the First Lady, prioritises youth empowerment through entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable job creation, equipping young Nigerians to compete and thrive in the global economy.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu assured Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Startup Hub would serve as a national centre for incubation, hardware prototyping, research and international business collaboration.
The Information Technology sector regulatory agency also noted the proposed digital facility is expected to provide an environment where innovators could develop and test their ideas, build prototypes, and explore opportunities, as well as take their products and services to wider markets.
Emphasising the importance of inclusion, First Lady Tinubu urged NITDA to ensure that the facility, upon completion, would be open to young people irrespective of their locations or backgrounds across Nigeria.
She explained the benefits of the project should extend beyond Abuja, giving aspiring entrepreneurs from different parts of the country an opportunity to participate in the growing Nigeria Digital Economy.
The First Lady applauded Japan for the country’s contribution.
She said the partnership with NITDA demonstrated that genuine friendship between countries could be measured by the opportunities created for younger generations.
The First Lady, therefore, expressed hope that the hub would contribute to the progress, empowerment and prosperity of Nigerian youths.
She equally encouraged all stakeholders to make the initiative count.
Senator Tinubu emphasised that the facility must become more than a building by providing young innovators with practical opportunities to develop their ideas, build businesses and compete in the global marketplace.
Earlier in his address at the event, Inuwa had said the project had gone beyond providing a physical space for innovation.
The Director-General of the agency stressed that it was intended to create opportunities for young Nigerians to transform their ideas into viable businesses and solutions.
He also linked the project to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which in agreement with the First Lady’s submission, focuses on economic diversification through digitalisation and innovation, while ensuring that more Nigerians could participate in, and benefit from national development.
He stated: “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.
“We are investing in our people, the ingenuity of our people, particularly our young people, whose creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial ambition are our greatest asset as a nation.”
The Chief Executive of NITDA further outlined the progress achieved by NITDA’s subsidiaries – the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).
According to him, the ONDI’s initiatives have supported over 995 startups, and contributed to the creation of 7,596 jobs, and 300 companies received training through a digital export acceleration programme within the past three years.
Inuwa also highlighted the expansion of the iHatch programme, jointly developed by NITDA and JICA through ONDI in 2023.
The Director-General said that 333 startups were trained across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory between 2025 and early 2026, alongside 74 hub managers.
According to him, the expansion reflects the need to make entrepreneurial support accessible to young people to build successful technology businesses across all sections of the country.
He as well highlighted other NITDA-JICA initiatives, including “We Elevate” and “IgniteHatch”, designed specifically to support women entrepreneurs.
He explained that through these digital initiatives, 224 women-owned enterprises had received training, with 12 founders sponsored to Japan while one beneficiary secured a grant worth $500,000.
How to widen access to digital opportunities, by Inuwa
In order to widen access to such digital opportunities, Inuwa announced that NITDA is working to ensure that every state in Nigeria has at least two functioning innovation hubs, where young entrepreneurs could access incubation programmes, and develop their ideas into market-ready products and services.
The NITDA Chief further said that the Japanese Government, through JICA, had provided $10.4 million to expand the innovation hub.
He also disclosed that JICA was working with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to establish a $50 million seed-funding facility for startups, to help strengthen entrepreneurship, create jobs in the digital economy and expand opportunities for Nigerian youths.
NITDA appreciates First Lady
Expressing appreciation to the First Lady for laying the foundation, the Director-General of NITDA said the hub should give young Nigerians access to technology, and needed support to take home-grown solutions to international markets.
Inuwa also pledged NITDA’s commitment to deepening cooperation with JICA and the Japanese government to create more productive opportunities for Nigerian innovators.
Suzuki: Digital project reflects 6 decades of cooperation, relations with Nigeria
Also speaking, Mr. Hideo Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, noted that the project reflected over six decades of cordial relations between Nigeria and Japan, with cooperation increasingly focused on technology, innovation and human capital development.
Suzuki explained that Japan’s support for Nigeria’s startup ecosystem rests on three pillars: strengthening policies and institutions, supporting early-stage investment, and providing infrastructure through the Renewed Hope Startup Hub.
He said: “This hub will provide entrepreneurs with the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment needed to transform raw ideas into viable businesses.
“It will serve as a sanctuary for innovation, a dynamic space equipped with digital fabrication tools, and collaborative areas where entrepreneurs can turn their dreams into reality, connect with global partners and drive Nigeria’s economic diversification.”
The Chief Executive of NITDA said Japan’s approach aimed to nurture businesses over the long term, rather than pursue quick financial exits.
The project aligned with Nigeria’s economic diversification and digital transformation goals, as well as with Japan’s broader ambition to promote industrial growth and stronger economic ties across Africa, stated he.
The project represents a significant step by Nigeria’s government to use international cooperation to expand access to technology, support entrepreneurship, and equip Nigerian youths with the skills and resources needed to pursue their ambitions.