The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has said Nigeria’s collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is accelerating the growth of the nation’s technology innovation and startup ecosystem.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Survey on the Digitisation of Supply Chains in Small-Scale Nigerian Farms, organised by AGROVESTO, a JICA-funded agritech startup and beneficiary of NITDA’s iHatch Incubation Programme Cohort 2 — Inuwa, represented by Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji, Deputy Director, e-Government and Digital Economy Development Department, described the partnership as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.
He noted that Nigeria has emerged as one of Africa’s most vibrant startup ecosystems, with young entrepreneurs deploying technology to address local challenges with global relevance.
“Nigeria is home to over 200 fintech startups revolutionising financial services, fostering inclusion, and empowering millions,” Inuwa said, citing success stories such as Paystack, Flutterwave, and Paga.
Highlighting the role of iHatch, a joint incubation and acceleration programme by NITDA and JICA, the DG explained that it provides training, mentorship, seed funding, and ecosystem support to early-stage startups across multiple sectors.
Inuwa further stressed that the recently enacted Nigeria Startup Act has created incentives to reduce barriers for innovators, including tax holidays, simplified registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), government-backed grants, innovation hubs, technology parks, and regulatory sandboxes.
“These interventions are designed to stimulate investment, nurture talent, and position Nigerian startups for global competitiveness. Through strategic partnerships such as the one we enjoy with JICA, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, inclusive development, and international recognition,” he stated.
Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Mr Ishigame Kenji, commended AGROVESTO for its creativity and dedication in implementing the project, urging the startup to expand the initiative to reach more farmers nationwide.
Earlier in his remarks, AGROVESTO Co-founder and CEO, Mr Bayo Adewoye, applauded Nigerian farmers for their resilience and immense contribution to national food security.