Nigeria Brings Tech Incubation to All 36 States

If you're building a startup in Nigeria but don't live in Lagos or Abuja, getting the support you need has been nearly impossible until now.

Nigeria's tech regulator just opened applications for a program that will place one innovation hub in each of the country's 36 states plus the capital. The iHatch program, backed by Japan's International Cooperation Agency, aims to fix a problem that's held back countless founders: all the resources are concentrated in big cities.

"Nigeria's startup ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade, but access to structured support remains uneven outside major tech clusters," said Victoria Fabunmi, who coordinates the program. The gap is real. While African startups raised $3.42 billion in 2025, Nigerian founders outside major cities often had nowhere to turn for mentorship or structured training.

Here's how it works. Selected hubs will spend at least a year recruiting and guiding about five startups each through a complete incubation process. They'll get operational support and resources to make it happen, with top performers earning additional rewards based on results.

The focus isn't just handing out money. It's about building strong local ecosystem leaders who stick around and develop their communities long term.

To qualify, innovation hubs must have operated for at least a year and show they're actively engaged in their local areas. They also need the physical space to host incubation activities. Applications close March 16.

The Ripple Effect

This systems approach could reshape Nigeria's entire startup landscape. Instead of individual founders scrambling for help, 37 hubs will deliver standardized training and investment readiness programs across every corner of the country.

That means a founder in a smaller state will get the same quality support as someone in Lagos. It means local economies benefit when homegrown startups succeed. And it means Nigeria's next breakthrough company could come from anywhere.

By strengthening the foundation instead of cherry-picking startups, the program creates lasting change that compounds over time.

The message is clear: your location shouldn't determine your shot at success.