The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has hailed the IgniteHer Bootcamp for its propensity to empower Nigerian women entrepreneurs to meaningfully participate in the country’s digital economy, foster innovation and promote inclusive development.
Abdullahi made this known during the opening ceremony of the second cohort of the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, which was held in Abuja under the theme “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation.”
The flagship initiative is implemented by NITDA in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
According to the NITDA boss, the initiative was built on a simple but powerful belief: when women are empowered, the entire nation is uplifted.
Abdullahi explained that the first cohort of IgniteHer was a success, with participants experiencing renewed confidence, sharpened business strategies and a stronger sense of purpose. Many of them, he noted, were even able to leverage what they learned to pitch their business ideas for the opportunity to travel to Japan and engage with the Japanese startup ecosystem.
He stressed that IgniteHer is not merely a skills development programme; it is a catalyst for nurturing self-reliant entrepreneurs, innovative leaders and changemakers equipped to create long-term impact.
Building on the success of the first edition, Abdullahi said the second cohort had been expanded in scope and structure to offer more comprehensive support. The programme had adopted a hybrid format to ensure wider access and deeper participation while enriching the curriculum to focus more on investor readiness, practical business applications and digital enablement. Citing World Bank statistics, he noted that, with Nigerian women representing almost half of the country’s population (approximately 108 million people) no meaningful development can occur without inclusive and gender-responsive policies and initiatives. Empowering women, he said, is not just a matter of equity but a strategic economic imperative.
Represented by Ag. director, digital literacy and capacity building department, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, Abdullahi referenced data from the Mastercard Foundation which shows that accelerating women’s economic participation across Africa could add $287 billion to the continent’s GDP and generate 23 million new jobs. Achieving this level of transformation, Abdullahi said, requires collective effort, sustained investments, and strategic partnerships.
He commended JICA and the government of Japan for their unwavering support to Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, not just through IgniteHer but also via the iHatch incubation programme, which has provided training, mentorship and technical support to early-stage startups across the country.
Addressing the 300 participants who were selected from over 12,000 applicants, the NITDA DG urged them to engage fully in the programme. He encouraged them to ask questions, test assumptions, form meaningful relationships and use the knowledge and tools provided to lead in their sectors and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s growing digital economy. He reminded them that the tools they would acquire were not just for business survival but for leadership, innovation and long-term impact.
Also speaking at the event, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and Nigeria’s broader innovation ecosystem.
He announced that Japan, through JICA, is currently funding two major grant projects in Nigeria valued at $30.9 million. These projects are focused on strengthening the national startup ecosystem, improving the investment climate and establishing a modern, inclusive startup facility. Matsunaga emphasised that Japan believes in inclusive development and that investing in women’s entrepreneurship is a direct path to achieving shared prosperity.
Chief representative of JICA Nigeria Office, Susumu Yuzurio further elaborated on the goals of IgniteHer, explaining that the programme was specifically designed to support women entrepreneurs by equipping them with business fundamentals, access to mentorship and the confidence needed to scale and grow sustainably. He described entrepreneurship as a critical driver of inclusive economic growth and underscored JICA’s commitment to empowering women as central to this vision. Yuzurio highlighted that JICA’s long-standing support to Nigeria covers a wide range of sectors, including education, infrastructure, governance and digital innovation, with women’s empowerment serving as a consistent priority.
He revealed that the Ministry of Women Affairs had now officially joined the IgniteHer programme as a co-supporting partner, a move expected to enhance the reach and sustainability of the initiative. He expressed hope that other government ministries and institutions would also step forward to make women’s entrepreneurship a national development priority.
Speaking to journalists at the event, one of the participants, Amina Abdulrasheed, shared her optimism and enthusiasm for the programme. She admitted that although she had many business ideas, she lacked the technical expertise to bring them to life.
She believed that the bootcamp’s intensive training, mentorship, and access to a network of professionals would help her and other women entrepreneurs build the knowledge and confidence required to scale their ventures and contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy.
With the successful kick-off of the second IgniteHer cohort, organisers and participants alike expressed high hopes that the programme would continue to catalyse growth in women-led enterprises and ensure that women take their rightful place at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital transformation and innovation-driven economy.
