The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa,has said Nigeria’s collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will boost the nation’s startup growth and strengthen its innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms, organised by AGROVESTO a JICA-funded Agritech startup and beneficiary of NITDA’s iHatch Incubation Programme Cohort 2 Inuwa, who was represented by Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji, Deputy Director, e-Government and Digital Economy Development Department, described the partnership as pivotal to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.
He noted that Nigeria now ranked among Africa’s most vibrant startup hubs, with young entrepreneurs leveraging technology to tackle local challenges that have global implications. “Nigeria is home to over 200 fintech startups revolutionising financial services, fostering inclusion, and empowering millions,” he said, citing success stories such as Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga.
The NITDA DG further highlighted the iHatch Programme a joint incubation and acceleration initiative by NITDA and JICA as a platform providing training, mentorship, seed funding, and ecosystem support to emerging startups across sectors.
He also pointed to the Nigeria Startup Act as a catalyst for innovation, offering tax holidays, simplified registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), government-backed grants, innovation hubs, technology parks, and regulatory sandboxes to lower barriers for innovators.
“These interventions are designed to stimulate investment, nurture talent, and position Nigerian startups for global competitiveness. Through strategic partnerships like JICA, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, inclusive development, and global impact,” Inuwa stated.
In his remarks, JICA Chief Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Ishigame Kenji, praised AGROVESTO for their innovation and commitment, urging them to expand their initiative to reach more farmers nationwide.
Earlier, AGROVESTO Co-founder and CEO, Bayo Adewoye, commended Nigerian farmers for their resilience and invaluable role in ensuring national food security.
