The Federal Government of Nigeria is seeking to strengthen innovation hubs across the country as part of efforts to expand entrepreneurship, create jobs and ensure more communities benefit from the country’s growing digital economy.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said greater investment was needed in technology hubs, innovation spaces and ecosystem builders to give young entrepreneurs access to the skills, mentorship, networks and infrastructure required to build sustainable businesses.
Tijani made the remarks in Abuja at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Validation Workshop, where stakeholders discussed measures to improve the quality and capacity of innovation hubs across Nigeria.
According to the minister, stronger local innovation ecosystems would enable young Nigerians to develop solutions to local challenges while creating employment opportunities and supporting economic diversification.
FG seeks stronger innovation ecosystems
Tijani noted that the success of leading Nigerian technology companies had demonstrated the potential of the country’s innovation ecosystem. However, he said greater attention must be given to the hubs and communities that provide entrepreneurs with the support needed to develop their ideas.
Drawing from his experience managing a technology hub, the minister stressed the importance of creating spaces where young people can access knowledge, mentorship, professional networks and other resources.
“Imagine if we had all the hubs in Nigeria at the same level of quality as the best hubs in the country. There would be more technology businesses, more innovation and better opportunities across the country,” he said.
He added that investment in digital infrastructure must be accompanied by investment in the people and institutions capable of converting connectivity into economic opportunities.
The government is currently expanding digital infrastructure through investments in fibre-optic connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure and satellite technology, alongside initiatives covering digital identity and cloud infrastructure.
Tijani, however, warned that these investments could have limited impact if innovation hubs do not have the capacity and resources to attract and retain skilled professionals.
Innovation remains concentrated in major cities
The government’s push comes amid concerns that innovation activities remain heavily concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and a limited number of other states.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said the agency had identified more than 339 innovation hubs across Nigeria.
However, he noted that a significant proportion of the hubs are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and about 10 other states, leaving many communities with limited access to established innovation networks.
According to Inuwa, some hubs outside the major technology centres continue to operate primarily as training centres and require additional support to develop into full-fledged innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship centres.
National standards framework to assess hubs
Inuwa said the proposed National Innovation Hub Standards Framework would provide hubs with a structured system for assessing their capabilities, identifying gaps and improving their operations.
He stressed that the framework would not impose rigid requirements on operators but would serve as a tool to guide development and improve standards across the ecosystem.
“Innovation does not happen in isolation; it happens in an ecosystem. And that ecosystem does not happen by accident; it happens by design,” Inuwa said.
The draft framework contains seven key dimensions and about 35 assessment categories, allowing innovation hubs to evaluate their level of development and identify areas that require improvement.
Inuwa said a stronger nationwide network of hubs would enable communities to harness local talent, develop solutions to local problems and build businesses without requiring young innovators to relocate to Lagos or Abuja.
Government calls for private-sector investment
The NITDA director-general also called for increased private-sector participation in providing risk capital to startups and emerging businesses.
He said government alone could not sustainably finance the development of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Inuwa identified talent, risk capital, large corporations and government as key pillars of a functional innovation ecosystem and urged stakeholders to work more closely to strengthen these areas.
He also called for stronger connections between universities and industry, saying higher education institutions should play a greater role in research, entrepreneurship, digital skills development and partnerships with businesses.
Digital skills to be integrated into education
NITDA is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into formal education as part of efforts to prepare graduates for the changing demands of the digital economy.
The initiative is expected to improve the ability of young Nigerians to participate in technology-driven businesses and employment opportunities.
The National Innovation Hub Standards Framework is currently still in draft form. NITDA is seeking input from hub founders, investors, development partners, government agencies, academics and other stakeholders before the framework is finalised.
The government hopes that strengthening innovation hubs across the country will widen access to entrepreneurship support, improve the development of local technology solutions and enable more young Nigerians to turn innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.
The initiative could also help broaden Nigeria’s technology ecosystem beyond its traditional centres, creating new opportunities for job creation, innovation and digital entrepreneurship across the country.
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