Tokyo, Japan – As part of Nigeria’s participation in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has met with senior officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to foster a partnership aimed at advancing Nigeria’s technology innovation ecosystem.
Discussions centred on several key initiatives, including a proposed $11.2 million Startup Hub in Abuja, which is intended to become a centre of excellence for innovation and entrepreneurship. A significant element of the collaboration is JICA’s commitment of a $20 million early-stage technology startup fund, which will be matched by an additional $20 million from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). This funding is being managed under the framework of the Nigeria Startup Act and is designed to provide young technology companies with the resources needed to scale their operations, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
Mr. Abdullahi praised JICA for its continued support and reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening partnerships that create tangible opportunities for its young population.
In another meeting, the NITDA chief met with Satoshi Shimoda, a senior writer at the major Japanese newspaper Nikkei. Their discussion focused on Nigeria’s vibrant startup scene, recent policy reforms like the Nigeria Startup Act, and the immense potential of the country’s youth-driven innovation sector.
The Nigerian delegation also visited the Tokyo Innovation Base, a leading hub for technology and entrepreneurship, to explore potential knowledge transfer and collaboration between Nigerian and Japanese startups.
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