The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has empowered eight Nigerian startups to develop business ideas that will offer technical solutions to issues facing the nation in line with the implementation of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
The startups received training as part of a joint initiative between Japan International Cooperation Agency and i-hatch.
The program included a five-month intense mentoring program that helped Nigerian business owners develop their concepts through a combination of coaching, classes, and boot camps.
The National Director of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Ya’u Garba, spoke on behalf of the DG NITDA on Tuesday during the first cohort demo day. He praised the partnership with JICA as a vibrant example of the value of cooperation for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s digital sector.
He said:
“The partnership with JICA is a perfect example of the importance of the critical role of collaboration in the Nigerian digital economy.
“Without doubt, this partnership is in forbearance to the commitment of the National Information Technology Development Agency to sustaining the promotion and growth of digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The i-hatch program is part of our initiative to strengthen the tech and innovation ecosystem for the creation of more ideas that will invariably contribute to the creation of jobs for our teeming youth and the prosperity of our country.
“The incubation program will complement our efforts at implementing digital innovation and entrepreneurship and promotion of indigenous content pillars of our strategic roadmap to achieve the broader objective of the National Digital Economy, policy and strategy vision of creating a wider pool of ideas that will guarantee a sustainable economic growth and prosperity for Nigeria.”
The pitching competition between eight participants was the highlight of the Demo day, which marked the conclusion of the first cohort and the beginning of the second cohort of the i-Hatch business incubation program.
Following a series of questions from the judges, Beta Life Inc. placed second, Every Farmer came in second, and Xolani Health Limited was declared the pitching competition’s victor.
Each of the winners received a monetary prize of $15,000.
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Source: Nyscinfo