Japan and Nigeria Finalize Plans to Establish a $11.2 Million Venture Center in Abuja, Aiming to Enhance Innovation
In Tokyo, on August 22, 2025, during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria, met with senior officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss ways to advance collaborations between the two countries.
The meeting was significant as it aimed to strengthen Nigeria's innovation ecosystem. Mr. Abdullahi highlighted the dynamic startup landscape in Nigeria and the importance of policy reforms like the Nigeria Startup Act.
One of the key topics of discussion was the proposed $11.2 million Startup Hub in Abuja, intended as a center of excellence for innovation and entrepreneurship. Another point of focus was a $20 million early-stage technology startup fund from JICA, which would be matched by a $20 million contribution from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
During the conference, Mr. Abdullahi also met with Satoshi Shimoda, a senior writer at Nikkei, to discuss these initiatives and the potential they hold for providing startups with the necessary resources to scale, create jobs, and drive economic transformation, in line with the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Act.
The Director General praised JICA for its continued support for Nigeria's innovation journey. He also visited the Tokyo Innovation Base to explore opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaboration between Nigerian and Japanese startups.
The discussions at the conference were focused on advancing collaborations between Nigeria and Japan, with the aim of boosting Nigeria's digital economy and technological development. The meeting between Mr. Abdullahi and JICA officials was a part of these efforts.
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