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The partnership between Nigeria and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is boosting growth of the country’s tech and startup scene. This was noted by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
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Abdullahi spoke during the closing ceremony for the “Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms.” This is project run by AGROVESTO, an Agritech startup funded by JICA and a proud graduate of NITDA’s iHatch Incubation Programme.
A Foundation for Socio-Economic Change
Speaking on behalf of Abdullahi, Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji, the Deputy Director of e-Government and Digital Economy Development, described the collaboration with JICA as a key factor in Nigeria’s advancement. Abdullahi pointed out that Nigeria has established itself as one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems. He said young innovators are now crafting local solutions with the potential to make a global impact.
“Nigeria is home to over 200 fintech startups that are transforming financial services, promoting inclusion, and empowering millions,” Abdullahi remarked.
He highlighting global success stories like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga as proof of the ecosystem’s vitality.
The iHatch Programme: Cultivating Future Startups
One of the standout results of the NITDA-JICA partnership is the iHatch incubation programme. Abdullahi shared that this initiative offers extensive support to emerging entrepreneurs, including essential training, expert mentorship, seed funding, and access to a thriving ecosystem across various sectors, particularly in Agritech.
Nigeria Startup Act: Fostering a Nurturing Environment for Innovation
The DG also stressed the supportive environment created by the Nigeria Startup Act. This groundbreaking legislation offers significant incentives aimed at reducing barriers for innovators, such as:
- Tax holidays to alleviate financial burdens.
- Simplified registration processes with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
