FG partners JICA to launch iHatch incubation programme

By Ogaga Ariemu

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its subsidiary, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is set to launch iHatch, a startup incubation programme aimed at increasing the number of innovation-driven enterprises by Nigerian youths. The incubation program will provide an excellent opportunity for startups that have innovative business ideas along with a prototype of their products or services.

According to a statement released by NITDA’s Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs Hadiza Umar on Thursday, iHatch is a 5-month free intensive incubation program designed to help Nigerian entrepreneurs perfect their business ideas through a series of coaching, lectures, and boot camps, to generate viable and scalable business models. iHatch focuses on youth, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology.

Participating start-ups will receive free offline and online interactive training from experienced coaches and mentors from over the world. Other benefits include free co-working space for the duration of the programme and investment opportunities.

“iHatch seeks to establish a programme that will accelerate the process of taking ideas to impact, hence providing the much-needed jobs for our teeming youths, and also nurturing that entrepreneurial spirit in them, which will catalyse the Nigerian digital economy to the next level,” said the Director-General/CEO of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Abdullahi.