Nigeria Partners With Japan For Tech Start-Ups

The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Robotics NCAIR, a subsidiary of the National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA is partnering with Japan International Corporation Agency JICA to empower eight indigenous technology Startups through its ‘iHatch’ initiative.

The Director-General NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa announced the partnership while declaring the iHatch incubation open in Abuja.

Stating that the program was critical to Nigeria’s digital transformation drive, he noted that iHatch is designed to train, mentor, and empower promising Nigerian tech entrepreneurs.

Inuwa also affirmed that the program will boost Nigeria’s wealth creation drive through effective capacity building.

He further explained that “President Muhammadu Buhari promised to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. To achieve that, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, formulated the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy NDEPS; the policy is the backbone program that provides digital innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria”.

“At NITDA part of the implementation of the policy, we are partnering with JICA to see how to create enabling environment, train our start-ups that can come up with innovative ideas to create wealth and prosperity for our country. So this initiative named ‘iHatch’ is crafted to identify promising start-ups with promising ideas. To help, train, mentor, incubate them and for them to turn their ideas into product and services as well as train the start-ups on how to pitch their ideas to potential investors so that they can get funding,” he added.

The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Matsunaga Kazuyosh assured of Japan’s interest in enhancing Nigeria’s Digital Economy sector.

“I believe the biggest asset of Nigeria is not natural resources but human capital. So the Japanese government is now focusing more on not helping the establishment of infrastructures, agriculture, medical and security but also digital transformation and green energy in Nigeria,” Kazuyosh stressed.

He said “innovation is key to promoting digital transformation and green energy. I am very happy that the ‘Ihatch’ program will inspire Nigerian youths to brush up on their innovative ideas and maximize opportunities for empowerment. I hope this program will contribute to the success of not only the Nigeria market but also the global market.”

He explained that “the important part of the program will not only bring private sector funding to the start-ups but also provide training to Nigerian Youths.