The National Information Technology Development Agency has trained eight Nigerian startups to develop business ideas that will provide technological solutions to the country’s problems as part of its implementation of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
In collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the startups were trained in an i-hatch startup incubation programme.
The training included a five-month intensive mentoring programme designed to help Nigerian entrepreneurs refine their business ideas through coaching, lectures, and boot camps.
Speaking during the first cohort demo day on Tuesday, the DG NITDA represented by the National Director, National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Ya’u Garba, lauded the partnership with JICA as a vibrant demonstration of the importance of collaboration for the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s digital economy.
He said, “The partnership with JICA is a perfect example of the importance of the critical role of collaboration in the Nigerian digital economy.
“Without doubt, this partnership is in forbearance to the commitment of the National Information Technology Development Agency to sustaining the promotion and growth of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The i-hatch program is part of our initiative to strengthen the tech and innovation ecosystem for the creation of more ideas that will invariably contribute to the creation of jobs for our teeming youth and the prosperity of our country.
“The incubation program will complement our efforts at implementing digital innovation and entrepreneurship and promotion of indigenous content pillars of our strategic roadmap to achieve the broader objective of the National Digital Economy, policy and strategy vision of creating a wider pool of ideas that will guarantee a sustainable economic growth and prosperity for Nigeria.” He further noted.
The highlight of the Demo day which signaled the end of the first cohort and inauguration of the second cohort of the i-Hatch startup incubation programme was a pitching competition between eight participants.
After a series of questions by the judges, Beta life inc. emerged second runner-up, Every farmer took second position and Xolani health limited was adjudged as the winner of the pitching competition.
The winners were awarded a cash prize of $15,000 each.
