First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has laid the foundation for a proposed $10.4 million Renewed Hope Startup Hub in Wuye, Abuja, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
She also commissioned the PBAT Door-to-Door campaign headquarters in Abuja on Friday, urging supporters to intensify grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to a statement by her spokesperson, the startup hub is a partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Mrs Tinubu described the project as an important step towards technological advancement, youth empowerment and digital inclusion, saying it aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said the initiative would provide young Nigerians with an environment to develop innovative ideas, build prototypes and transform them into marketable products capable of competing internationally.
“To our young innovators, this Start-Up Hub is yours. You can arrive here with a sketch and leave with a working prototype that takes you into the global market space. Let this hub be the home where your dreams are nurtured and scaled,” she said.
The First Lady commended the Japanese government for supporting Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, noting that the partnership reflected confidence in the country’s youthful population and its potential for innovation.
She said the collaboration had produced several developmental initiatives and expressed appreciation to JICA for providing the grant supporting the project.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the agency’s partnership with JICA, which began in 2021, had focused on strengthening Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through capacity building, knowledge transfer, infrastructure development and international collaboration.
He explained that the startup hub formed part of a broader Japan-Nigeria initiative to support the development of the country’s startup ecosystem.
Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in education and technology.
He said Japan was encouraged by improvements in Nigeria’s economic environment and remained willing to strengthen its development partnerships with the country.
At the separate commissioning of the PBAT Door-to-Door campaign headquarters, Mrs Tinubu urged members of the movement to take the administration’s message directly to communities and communicate its policies and achievements to Nigerians.
She expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic recovery and sustainable development, adding that improved investor confidence was an indication of progress.
According to her, grassroots engagement should go beyond visiting homes to listening to citizens, understanding their concerns and communicating messages of hope, peace, unity and development.
“The door-to-door campaign approach remains one of the most vital avenues for true community engagement, which gives us the privilege to listen to the heartfelt concerns of families, understand the aspirations of our young people, honour the wisdom of our elders, and learn directly from the women who serve as the resilient backbone of our homes and society as a whole,” she said.
The First Lady urged members of the movement to sustain their mobilisation efforts, commending them for extending their activities to 14 states of the federation.
She also called for continued engagement with communities as preparations gather momentum for the formal commencement of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign.
