In a strategic move to drive job creation, economic diversification, and digital innovation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced the nationwide expansion of its iHatch initiative. The programme, designed to empower tech startups and hub managers, aligns with the federal government’s priority of reforming the economy through industrialization and digitization.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, made this known at the iHatch Cohort 4 Onsite Training for Hub Managers, held in Abuja. The training, organized in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), brought together 37 hub managers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at the event, Inuwa emphasized the need to take digital innovation beyond Lagos and Abuja, ensuring that grassroots communities benefit from technology-driven solutions to local challenges.
“We don’t want technological innovation to be concentrated only in Lagos and Abuja. We want to take it to the grassroots and use it to solve real-life problems. That is why we designed the iHatch initiative,” he said.
The iHatch initiative, which successfully piloted in Abuja, trained 50 startups, leading to the creation of 179 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs. With the expansion to all 37 states, NITDA projects the initiative will generate 740 direct jobs and 7,400 indirect jobs before the end of the year.
The DG highlighted that the programme will help startups develop innovative solutions in key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and transportation while fostering a collaborative ecosystem for entrepreneurs.
“To sustain this initiative, we must build a strong community where startups, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders can continuously share ideas and collaborate. We don’t want startups to just pass through the programme; we want them to remain within the iHatch ecosystem because we want this initiative to expand to all the 774 local governments of the country,” Inuwa stated.
He further urged participants to champion the Nigeria Startup Act, which provided legal backing and incentives for startups, encouraging more entrepreneurs to register and benefit from its provisions.
“In line with the president’s mandate, our ultimate goal is to see every Nigerian digitally literate, using technology to access government and private sector services. We also want our market women to leverage technology to expand their businesses,” he added.
The iHatch initiative reflected NITDA’s commitment to fostering local capacity development, strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, and ensuring that innovation becomes a tool for national transformation.
