President Tinubu Reaffirms Youth Empowerment Drive as First Lady Breaks Ground for $10.4m Startup Hub

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... Japan-backed facility in Abuja to support Nigerian innovators with infrastructure, mentorship and global market access

L-R Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ishigami Keiji, Director General/CEO National Information Technology Development Agency, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahi, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria Suzuki Hideo at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye Abuja on Friday 23rd October, 2026


Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and digital inclusion as she performed the foundation-laying ceremony for a Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye, Abuja.

The facility, a partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s startup ecosystem and provide young innovators with access to infrastructure, technical expertise and international collaboration opportunities.

Speaking at the ceremony, the First Lady described the project as an important step towards technological advancement and sustainable job creation, noting that it aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.

She said the government was prioritising entrepreneurship and skills development to equip young Nigerians to compete in the global economy.

“To our young innovators, this Start-Up 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.

Tinubu commended the Japanese government for supporting the project through JICA, describing the partnership as a demonstration of confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy and youthful population.

In his remarks, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency’s partnership with JICA, which began in 2021, had focused on strengthening Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through capacity building, knowledge transfer, infrastructure development and international cooperation.

He explained that the proposed hub would serve as a centre for startup development, industry engagement and coordination among innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

According to him, the facility is designed to improve access to technical resources, mentorship and opportunities for Nigerian innovators to collaborate with international partners.

Abdullahi put the investment in the innovation hub at approximately 10.4 million dollars, depending on the exchange rate, describing it as part of a broader Japan-Nigeria initiative to support startup development.

L-R Wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs Chioma Uzodimma, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Ishigami Keiji, Director General/CEO National Information Technology Development Agency, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahi, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria Suzuki Hideo at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye Abuja on Friday 23rd October, 2026

Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, also pledged continued cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in education and technology, expressing optimism about expanding bilateral partnerships amid improvements in the country’s economic environment.

The project is expected to provide a platform for young entrepreneurs to develop ideas into market-ready products, strengthen innovation and expand opportunities within Nigeria’s digital economy.

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