The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the construction of the $10.4 million Renewed Hope Innovation Hub, a five-storey facility designed to support start-ups, product development and technology-driven businesses in Nigeria.

The project, being implemented by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is funded through a grant from the Japanese government under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Speaking on Friday at the foundation-laying ceremony in Abuja, Tinubu described the project as a significant step towards technological advancement, youth empowerment and digital inclusion.

She said the facility would provide young Nigerians with the tools and resources to transform innovative ideas into marketable products and businesses.

“To our young innovators, this Startup Hub is yours. You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space,” she said.

The First Lady commended the Japanese government and JICA for supporting the initiative, noting that the partnership reflected confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy and the potential of its young population.

She urged NITDA to ensure that the facility would be accessible and inclusive when completed, allowing young people from every part of the country to benefit from its services.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the project represented an investment in the creativity and entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youths.

He said the agency was working to expand opportunities for innovators beyond established technology centres such as Lagos and Abuja, enabling young people across the country to develop businesses and create jobs.

Abdullahi disclosed that more than 300 companies had received training through the Digital Export Acceleration Programme, while 995 start-ups had benefited from ONDI’s wider initiatives.

He estimated that the supported start-ups had created about 7,596 jobs over three years. He added that 1,752 women-led micro, small and medium enterprises had been reached through the WE-Elevate initiative.

The NITDA chief also highlighted the iHatch programme, developed in partnership with JICA to support early-stage businesses and strengthen innovation hubs nationwide.

He said 333 start-ups had been supported under iHatch Cohorts Four and Five, while 74 hub managers had been trained across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The programme is expected to culminate in a national demonstration day in November 2026, when selected start-ups will present their businesses and innovations.

Abdullahi further disclosed that the IgniteHer initiative had trained 224 female-owned small and medium enterprises, with 12 participants sponsored to Japan. One of the beneficiaries secured a $500,000 grant.

He attributed the expansion of the innovation programmes to cooperation with Japan and disclosed that JICA and the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) were also working on a proposed $50 million start-up seed fund to address early-stage financing challenges.

The fund is expected to receive $14 million each from JICA and NSIA, with another $22 million targeted from co-investors.

Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki, said the innovation hub formed part of a broader partnership aimed at strengthening start-up policies, expanding access to capital and providing businesses with the infrastructure needed to grow.

He said Japan’s support was designed to help early-stage businesses develop solutions to social challenges and contribute to Nigeria’s economic diversification.

“Japan’s support for Nigerian startups encompasses three interconnected pillars,” Suzuki said.

According to him, the partnership would place particular emphasis on businesses addressing practical challenges in healthcare, education and agriculture, while encouraging collaboration between Nigerian entrepreneurs and Japanese companies.

The representative of JICA in Nigeria, Ishigame Keiji, said the hub would provide a supportive environment for young Nigerians to turn creative ideas into sustainable businesses.

He said its digital fabrication facilities would support manufacturing-oriented start-ups, while shared workspaces would promote collaboration among entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.

Keiji added that sustained commitment and cooperation would be necessary to achieve the project’s objectives of promoting innovation, industrial diversification and economic growth.

The project forms part of NITDA’s implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act, which seeks to strengthen the country’s start-up ecosystem and position Nigeria as a leading centre for innovation in Africa.

It’s executive summary puts the Japanese grant at 1.634 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $10.4 million.

The five-storey building, comprising a ground floor and four additional floors, is expected to be completed by March 31, 2028, within an 18-month construction period.

When completed, NITDA is expected to operate the facility with continued technical support from JICA experts.