The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced the nationwide expansion of its iHatch initiative. This move aims to harness technological innovation, create jobs and foster economic diversification across Nigeria.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, made this known at the iHatch Cohort 4 Onsite Training for Hub Managers, held in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) at Hotel De Horizon, Abuja.
The training programme brought together 37 hub managers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), equipping them with the necessary skills to build strong incubation systems, support local startups, enhance regional innovation ecosystems and improve mentorship capabilities. Additionally, the programme facilitates international exchange opportunities to expose participants to global best practices in business incubation.
While reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic reform and inclusive growth, Inuwa emphasised that grassroots-level digital technology adoption is key to solving local problems across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and small-scale trade.
“We don’t want technological innovation to be concentrated only in Lagos and Abuja,” he stated. “We want to take it to the grassroots and use it to solve real-life problems. That is why we designed the iHatch initiative.”
The pilot phase of the iHatch initiative, which took place in Abuja, successfully trained 50 startups, leading to the creation of 179 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs. With the expansion of the programme to all 37 states, NITDA expects to create 740 direct jobs and 7,400 indirect jobs before the end of the year.
“This initiative will domesticate innovation in states and enable startups to solve real-life problems in agriculture, healthcare, transportation and other sectors specific to their communities,” Abdullahi explained.
The NITDA DG stressed that innovation flourishes in clusters where critical stakeholders exchange ideas and incubate solutions. He highlighted the importance of collaboration, networking, and ecosystem development in sustaining technological progress.
“To sustain this initiative, we must build a strong community where startups, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders can continuously share ideas and collaborate,” he said. “We don’t want startups to just pass through the programme; we want them to remain within the iHatch ecosystem because we aim to expand this initiative to all 774 local governments in Nigeria.”
He also noted that the iHatch initiative aligns with the Nigeria Startup Act, which provides legal backing and incentives for startups in the country.
Abdullahi urged iHatch participants to champion the initiative in their respective states, spreading awareness about the Nigeria Startup Act and encouraging more startups to register and benefit from its incentives.
“In line with the president’s mandate, our ultimate goal is to see every Nigerian digitally literate and using technology to access government and private sector services,” he stated. “We also want our market women to leverage technology to expand their businesses.”
He emphasised that the iHatch model is designed to invest in local talent, unlocking Nigeria’s national potential.
“We at NITDA are proud to walk this journey with you. Let’s keep building, let’s keep innovating, and let’s continue to shape the future of Nigeria, one innovation at a time,” he concluded.
