FG Partners Japanese Firm to Empower Young Nigerians in ICT

By Emmanuel Obisue
National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and Aiivon Innovation Hub is partnering with Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, to support young Nigerians in an incubation programme aimed at addressing community issues through the application of software, hardware and other technologies.

Disclosing this at a press briefing and media lunch in Abuja on Wednesday, Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Shohei Sato, said $8,000 will be given out as start-up funds to each of five winners in the program tagged: ‘NINJA Start-up Gateway’.

“Participants enter the program by developing a scalable product to solve a prominent issue within their community, establishing the company legally incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, and starting their business,” Sato said.

He added that: “There are many Nigerian youths with innovative business idea, but often, those aren’t very profitable or sustainable. In NINJA Start Gateway, we would like to contribute to the Nigerian society by creating a profitable and sustainable business”.

Senior Innovation Officer and Representative of NITDA, Adesye Oguntade, noted that if the Covid-19 pandemic permits, the five winners may be taken on a business tour in Japan.

While noting that innovative start-ups contributes significantly to economic growth and employment nationwide, he added that it will also help develop new solutions, thereby creating a more dynamic and competitive society.

According to JICA, the NINJA Start-up Gateway as a JICA initiative, is targeted at young individuals between the ages of 18 to 35 years old who have great business ideas.