NITDA, JICA to empower 185 startups, 37 hubs in iHatch programme

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be training 185 startups and 37 innovation hubs in the Idea Hatch (iHatch) Cohort 4 programme. NITDA’s spokeswoman Hadiza Umar said this on Sunday in a statement. “The programme officially launched in October 2024 and will run through January 2025, providing 185 startups and 37 innovation hubs across Nigeria with the resources they need to scale and succeed in local and global markets. “iHatch Cohort 4 is a critical part of NITDA’s Digital Economy Policy, designed to foster entrepreneurship, drive economic growth, and create jobs by providing startups with tailored mentorship, training, and investment readiness,” the statement explained.
It said the programme, with its dual approach, would also strengthen the capacity of innovation hubs to act as sustainable incubators for local entrepreneurs. According to NITDA, 90 per cent of startups will incorporate with the Corporate Affairs Commission by the end of the programme, while 80 per cent of them will develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ready for market testing. It added that 30 per cent of startups would secure investment from investors, grants, or partnerships facilitated by the programme, and 1,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created through the startup and hub ecosystem. NITDA stated that Nigeria was on the verge of becoming a leading player in Africa’s digital transformation. It added that the iHatch Cohort 4 programme aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), which sought to build a strong knowledge economy and encourage innovation-driven enterprises (IDEs). NITDA said startup and innovation hub applications were open, and interested applicants were encouraged to apply through the official iHatch website. It said interested applicants should visit programs.startup.gov.ng/ihatch or follow NITDA on social media at NITDANigeria and ONDINigeria. (NAN)