Nigeria’s startup ecosystem is no longer just buzzing, it is breaking boundaries.
And according to the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, much of that momentum is being fuelled by a strategic partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
At the closing of a JICA-funded project, the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms, led by agritech startup AGROVESTO; Inuwa, represented by Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji, NITDA’s Deputy Director for e-Government and Digital Economy Development, called the collaboration “a cornerstone for Nigeria’s digital future.”
He pointed to the rise of Nigerian startups that are redefining industries, especially fintech, where companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga are transforming how millions interact with money.
“Nigeria has one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems,” he said. “Young innovators are solving local challenges with solutions that have global impact.”
Central to this progress is iHatch, the joint incubation and acceleration programme by NITDA and JICA, which equips startups with mentorship, training, seed funding, and the ecosystem support needed to scale.
Inuwa also highlighted the Nigeria Startup Act as a landmark reform, unlocking incentives like tax holidays, regulatory sandboxes, innovation hubs, and government-backed funding to lower barriers for innovators.
“These interventions are designed to spark investment, nurture talent, and position Nigerian startups to compete globally,” he explained. “Through strategic partnerships like JICA’s, we are laying foundations for growth that is sustainable, inclusive, and globally relevant.”
JICA’s Chief Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Ishigame Kenji, applauded AGROVESTO’s creativity and commitment, urging the team to extend their digitisation model to more farmers nationwide.
On his part, AGROVESTO Co-founder and CEO, Bayo Adewoye, praised Nigerian farmers for their resilience and underscored how technology could multiply their contributions to food security.
As the session closed, one thing was clear: Nigeria’s startup revolution is no longer a promise.
With partnerships that bridge Lagos and Tokyo, and policies that back bold ideas, the country is building an innovation story the world can no longer ignore.
