Nigeria’s innovation industry is receiving a major push as the Imo State Government, in partnership with the United States Market Access Center (US.MAC), has launched a nationwide mentoring programme to strengthen startups and entrepreneurs.
The initiative, modeled after Silicon Valley-style hackathons, is aimed at empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs to build globally competitive companies, create jobs, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at the project’s pre-launch in Abuja, the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, Mr. Doko Inuita, represented by his Technical Adviser on ICT and Administration, Mr. Amukoyo Onome, described the programme as a strategic move for national development.
“This programme gives Nigerians the opportunity to start as micro and small enterprises and scale into full companies that can operate not only within Nigeria but also globally. Investors from Silicon Valley are already on ground, which will build confidence, attract foreign direct investment and prepare our startups to compete internationally,” he said.
The Co-founder of the Global Innovation Dojo, Donohue, stressed that Nigeria has the talent required to produce billion-dollar technology companies.
According to him, the project is designed to identify entrepreneurs with resilience and capacity to scale into high-growth ventures. He further revealed that the Imo State Government has set up a digital hub to serve as an accelerator, with national data protection frameworks already in place to safeguard intellectual property and sensitive data.
“When just a handful of founders succeed, the impact spreads across society. What is missing is experienced mentors who have built and sold global companies. This project aims to bridge that gap by linking Nigerian startups with successful international founders,” he explained.
USMAC’s Africa representative, Matt Ifese, outlined the programme’s structure, which will begin with outreach events and a curated hackathon in October.
He added that the hackathon would lead to a boot camp where the most promising startups will be shortlisted for international exposure. “We expect up to 2,000 applications, but only 100 startups will make the cut. From there, the best candidates will advance to training and international exposure,” he said.
Mr. Ifese also highlighted Nigeria’s growing digital economy as a major attraction for global investors. He noted that the programme is expected to bring in venture capital, boost the country’s revenue base, and enhance Nigeria’s visibility in the global innovation ecosystem.