The Co-creation Hub, in partnership with IHS Nigeria, has announced a N29 million innovation grant to support 10 young technology innovators and startups across the country, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and promote youth entrepreneurship.
The Managing Partner of CcHUB, Nissi Madu, disclosed this to Arewa PUNCH on Friday during the flagship Innovation Challenge and Hackathon programme held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Kwara State.
According to Madu, the initiative, powered by IHS Nigeria in collaboration with CcHUB, is aimed at building capacity for innovation, creating jobs, and driving inclusive economic growth through technology-driven solutions. She stated that the programme is designed to encourage Nigerian youths to develop sustainable digital solutions that can transform industries and improve access to technology.
She revealed that the three-month programme, which featured roadshows and campus engagements across Nigeria, attracted over 1,300 participants and received more than 500 applications before the August 18, 2025 deadline.
“The shortlisted innovators are developing solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, clean tech, health tech, education technology, digital creativity, connectivity, and Big Data, among others,” Madu said.
She further explained that out of the finalists, seven innovators will be selected from the hackathon category and three from the innovation challenge, with each receiving financial and technical support to scale their projects.
“Each hackathon team will receive N2 million, while startups in the innovation challenge will receive N5 million each to strengthen key business areas and accelerate growth,” she added.
The Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, described the programme as a strategic platform designed to discover and accelerate tech-enabled solutions addressing regional and national challenges.
Kolawole noted that the initiative will connect startups with mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners to promote economic diversification, sustainable development, and job creation, particularly in Kwara State.
He said, “This programme is not just about funding; it’s about building a thriving innovation ecosystem that empowers young Nigerians to create solutions for local problems.”
The three-day Innovation Challenge and Hackathon serves as a pipeline event into the Pre-Incubation and Incubation programmes, which will culminate in the upcoming Demo Day, where the selected startups will showcase their innovations to potential investors and partners.
