NITDA moves to standardise innovation hubs nationwide

…targets decentralisation of innovation ecosystem for greater opportunities 

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has taken steps to establish common standards for innovation hubs across the country as part of efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and create greater opportunities for young Nigerians to develop and scale technology-driven businesses within their local communities.

Speaking in Abuja at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Validation Workshop, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the proposed National Innovation Hub Standards Framework was designed to provide hubs with a structured pathway for assessing their capabilities, identifying gaps and progressing towards maturity, rather than imposing rigid requirements on operators.

Inuwa explained that innovation hubs had become critical platforms for bringing together innovators, students, entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, academia and government to exchange ideas, develop solutions and transform concepts into commercially viable enterprises.

The NITDA boss noted that Nigeria had an abundance of talented and entrepreneurial young people, but many still lacked access to funding, networks, mentorship, infrastructure and other support systems needed to translate their ideas into sustainable businesses.

He identified talent, risk capital, large corporate organisations and government as key pillars of a functional innovation ecosystem, stressing that stronger collaboration among stakeholders was necessary to build a sustainable digital economy.

Inuwa expressed concern that innovation activities remained largely concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and a few other states, despite the talent and innovation potential spread across the country.

He said the proposed framework would help develop innovation ecosystems around the unique strengths, challenges and economic opportunities of individual communities, rather than attempting to replicate a single model across the country.

According to him, NITDA’s research had identified more than 339 innovation hubs across Nigeria, although a significant proportion were concentrated in Lagos, Abuja and about 10 other states.