FG, NITDA Target Strengthening Innovation Hub To Unlock Digital Economy

The federal overnment has called for increased investment in innovation hubs and ecosystem builders across the country, saying stronger support structures are needed to translate Nigeria’s growing digital talent into businesses, jobs and economic opportunities.

The minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, made the call in Abuja at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Validation Workshop, organised as part of efforts to strengthen and decentralise Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

Tijani said that while successful technology startups often attract attention, the innovation hubs and communities that provide entrepreneurs with access to knowledge, mentorship, networks, infrastructure and other support are frequently overlooked.

According to him, these hubs serve as critical anchor points where young Nigerians can collaborate, develop ideas and transform them into viable businesses.

The minister drew from his previous experience managing a technology hub and said Nigeria’s technology ecosystem had benefited significantly from the emergence of spaces that support entrepreneurs and young innovators.

He, however, warned that the country’s digital transformation would remain incomplete if investment in infrastructure was not matched with investment in the people and institutions capable of turning connectivity into economic value.

“Imagine if we had all the hubs in Nigeria at the same level of quality as the best hubs in the country. There would be more technology businesses, more innovation and better opportunities across the country,” Tijani said.

He said the government was expanding digital infrastructure through investments in fibre-optic connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure and satellite technology to extend access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

The minister also cited ongoing efforts around digital identity, cloud infrastructure and other components of the digital ecosystem, but stressed that infrastructure alone would not deliver sustainable economic transformation.

Tijani said stronger innovation hubs would provide young Nigerians with the environment to develop local solutions to societal challenges while creating employment and new sources of economic activity.

He maintained that Nigeria could not achieve sustainable prosperity by relying on oil and gas, noting that technology, innovation and entrepreneurship would be central to diversifying the economy.

The minister cited successful Nigerian technology companies, including Paystack, as evidence of what could emerge when talent, capital and supportive innovation ecosystems converge.

Against this backdrop, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is developing a National Innovation Hub Standards Framework to establish a common pathway for assessing and strengthening innovation hubs across the country.

The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the proposed framework would help hubs assess their capabilities, identify gaps and progress towards higher levels of maturity without imposing rigid operating requirements.

“Innovation does not happen in isolation; it happens in an ecosystem. And that ecosystem does not happen by accident; it happens by design,” Inuwa said.

He said Nigeria had an abundance of talented and entrepreneurial young people, but many lacked access to funding, mentorship, networks, infrastructure and other resources required to convert ideas into sustainable businesses.

According to him, talent, risk capital, large corporate organisations and government constitute key pillars of a functional innovation ecosystem, making collaboration among stakeholders critical to building a sustainable digital economy.

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA had identified more than 339 innovation hubs across Nigeria, although a significant number remain concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and about 10 other states.

He said the concentration of innovation activities in a few locations meant that talented young Nigerians in other parts of the country could be forced to relocate before gaining access to the networks and resources needed to develop their ideas.

The DG said some hubs outside the major technology centres were still operating largely as training centres and required additional support to evolve into full-fledged innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship centres.

He explained that the proposed framework contains seven key dimensions and about 35 assessment categories through which hubs would be able to evaluate their capabilities, identify weaknesses and determine their level of development.

Inuwa stressed that the framework was not designed to be prescriptive, but rather to provide a structured guide for hubs seeking to improve their operations, services and institutional capacity.

He said the ultimate objective was to create innovation ecosystems where young Nigerians could brainstorm, develop and test ideas, access facilities, connect with investors and businesses, understand government policies and obtain the support needed to build sustainable enterprises.

The NITDA boss also called for greater private-sector participation, particularly in providing risk capital, noting that government could not independently finance the growth of startups and emerging technology businesses.

He urged stronger collaboration between universities and industry, saying higher institutions must become active participants in the innovation ecosystem through research, entrepreneurship, digital skills development and stronger industry partnerships.

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA was already collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into formal education, to produce graduates better equipped for the digital economy.

He, however, urged hub founders, investors, development partners, government institutions, academia and other stakeholders to contribute to the refinement of the draft standards framework. According to him, a stronger national network of innovation hubs would allow communities to harness local talent, develop solutions to local challenges and contribute directly to national economic growth.

He added that decentralising innovation would also reduce the pressure on young entrepreneurs to move to Lagos, Abuja and other major technology centres before they could access the ecosystem required to build and scale their businesses.