FG Reiterates Support For Innovation Hubs

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu has disclosed the readiness of the Federal Government to do everything possible for the provision of effective support for innovation Hubs across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Towarsd this end, the Federal Ministry of Communications will establish and provide support for existing innovation Hubs across the country as part of the priority projects identified in its ICT Sector Roadmap.

In a statement made available to digitaltimesnigeria by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Victor Oluwadamilare, the Minister said “If equitably established across the country, the innovation Hubs will provide unique opportunities for start-ups and SMEs to acquire important ICT skills, build key networks and access necessary funding.”

The Minister said in a keynote address delivered at the public presentation of the Delta State Innovation Hub in Asaba on Monday that, “We, at the Federal Ministry of Communications, are keen to support you in this process. Our policies are geared towards using Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as a catalyst for innovation in every sector of

the economy”. 

He stressed further that a key part of his road-map is the establishment of new innovation hubs and support for existing ones as Innovation hubs serve as magnets for high-end thinkers and a birth place for ideas and channels for investment.

“They are crucial in the Federal Government’s drive to create jobs, generate wealth and increase revenue. We will keep our promise to create new hubs across the country and strengthen existing hubs for greater effectiveness. We are conscious of the need to support these hubs by creating a virile ICT Innovation Ecosystem within the country,” Barrister Shittu assured.

He added that as a result of a recent trip to the Silicon Valley, the Ministry is currently exploring a partnership that will assess the current state of the country’s ecosystem, disclosing that the consultants will propose a framework for developing an ecosystem in line with global best practices capable of making ICT innovation become second nature to Nigerians.