iHatch Cohort 5 Is Looking for 37 Innovation Hubs to Power Nigeria’s Next Wave of Startups
Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade,...
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Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade, but access to structured support remains uneven outside major tech clusters. iHatch Cohort 5 is attempting to address that imbalance, starting with the hubs themselves.<br />
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The iHatch has opened applications for Innovation Hubs across Nigeria to serve as state-level Hub Managers for its fifth cohort. The programme, implemented by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation under the National Information Technology Development Agency in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is designed to strengthen the infrastructure that supports early-stage founders nationwide.<br />
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Rather than focusing only on startup recruitment, iHatch adopts a systems-level approach: build stronger hubs, standardise incubation quality, and improve Founder mentorship outcomes across all 36 states and the FCT.<br />
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A Decentralised Incubation Model<br />
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For Cohort 5, one hub will be selected per state and the FCT, bringing the total to 37 Hub Managers nationwide. These hubs will be responsible for delivering structured incubation programming within their states for at least one year.<br />
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Selected Hub Managers will:<br />
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* Coordinate founder training and mentorship<br />
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* Deliver incubation activities aligned with national programme standards<br />
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* Support startup formalisation and growth readiness<br />
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* Serve as the primary implementation partners at the state level<br />
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The move signals a deliberate attempt to decentralise incubation capacity, especially in regions where early-stage founders often operate without access to formal support systems.<br />
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Why Hubs, Not Just Founders?<br />
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While many innovation programmes in Nigeria focus exclusively on startups, iHatch places equal emphasis on strengthening the intermediaries, the hubs that shape founder development pipelines.<br />
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The programme’s thesis is straightforward: sustainable startup growth requires institutional capacity. By equipping hubs with structured tools, curriculum frameworks, and coordinated oversight, iHat...
