Federal Government has called for greater investment in technology hubs, innovation spaces, and ecosystem builders across Nigeria, identifying them as essential engines for cultivating talent, empowering entrepreneurs, and driving the nation’s digital economy.
Speaking in Abuja at the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework Validation Workshop, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasised that Nigeria cannot achieve a diversified and prosperous economy without directly strengthening the support systems that nurture innovation.
Dr. Tijani noted that while high-profile tech startups often capture public attention, the underlying innovation hubs and grass-roots communities that make their success possible are frequently overlooked.
He highlighted hub managers and physical co-working spaces as vital anchor points where young talent, creators, and entrepreneurs can collaborate, build networks, and turn original concepts into viable businesses.
Ultimately, the Minister stressed that investing in these foundational hubs provides the ideal environment for young Nigerians to craft local solutions to societal challenges while creating meaningful employment opportunities across the country.
The Minister, who drew from his previous experience managing a technology hub, said Nigeria’s growing technology ecosystem was partly driven by the emergence of spaces that provide entrepreneurs with access to knowledge, mentorship, networks and other forms of support.
He noted that the country’s increasing number of successful technology companies demonstrated the enormous potential of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, but warned that this potential could not be fully realised without stronger support structures for ecosystem builders.
Tijani stressed that government’s investment in digital infrastructure must be matched with adequate investment in the people and institutions capable of transforming infrastructure into economic opportunities.
He highlighted ongoing Federal Government efforts to expand digital infrastructure through investments in fibre-optic connectivity, telecommunications infrastructure and satellite technology to extend digital access to underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
He added that government was also strengthening other components of the digital ecosystem, including digital identity and cloud infrastructure, through new policies and strategic interventions.
The Minister, however, maintained that infrastructure alone would not deliver the desired economic transformation if innovation hubs across the country lacked the resources and capacity required to attract and retain skilled personnel.
“Imagine if we had all the hubs in Nigeria at the same level of quality as the best hubs in the country. There would be more technology businesses, more innovation and better opportunities across the country,” he said.
Tijani also advocated greater documentation and transfer of knowledge from successful innovation ecosystems around the world to Nigerian technology hub managers, saying lessons from global best practices could help strengthen local innovation communities.
He explained that the impact of successful technology hubs extended beyond individual entrepreneurs, as startups supported by such ecosystems could create jobs, establish new businesses, generate tax revenue and contribute to national economic growth.
The Minister said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable economic development by relying solely on oil and gas, stressing the need for a diversified economy driven by technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
He cited leading Nigerian technology companies, including Paystack, as examples of what could emerge when the right innovation ecosystem, talent and support structures were available.
Against this backdrop, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is taking 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.
The 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.
“Innovation does not happen in isolation; it happens in an ecosystem. And that ecosystem does not happen by accident; it happens by design,” he said.
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 concentrated largely 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 one 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.
He explained that some hubs outside the major innovation centres were still operating primarily as training centres and required additional support to transition into full-fledged innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship centres.
The DG said the framework contained seven key dimensions and about 35 assessment categories through which hubs could evaluate their capabilities, identify weaknesses and determine their level of development.
He stressed that the framework was not intended to be prescriptive but would serve as a guide for hubs seeking to improve their operations, services and institutional capacity.
Inuwa said the ultimate objective was to create an environment where young Nigerians could brainstorm, develop and test ideas, access relevant facilities, connect with businesses and investors, understand government policies and obtain the support required to build sustainable enterprises.
He further emphasised the importance of private-sector participation in providing risk capital, noting that government alone could not sustainably finance the growth of startups and emerging businesses.
The NITDA DG also called for stronger collaboration between universities and industry, saying higher institutions must become active participants in the innovation ecosystem by strengthening research, entrepreneurship, digital skills and industry partnerships.
He disclosed that NITDA was already working with the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into formal education, with the aim of producing graduates equipped to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
Inuwa described the standards framework as a draft and urged hub founders, investors, development partners, government institutions, academia and other stakeholders to contribute their expertise towards its refinement.
He said a robust national network of innovation hubs would enable communities to harness local talent, develop solutions to local challenges and contribute to national economic growth.
The initiative, he added, would also reduce the pressure on innovators to relocate to major cities before accessing the ecosystem required to develop and scale their ideas.
