TheCable

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to support Nigerian entrepreneurs.

NITDA and JICA are seeking to implement a programme known as the Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) project in collaboration with Aiivon Innovation Hub.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Abuja on Wednesday, Shohei Sato, JICA representative, said the Japanese government is seeking to support the economic stability of “emerging countries” through JICA.

“We aim to support the socio-economic development or economic stability of emerging countries. This NINJA project is to support entrepreneurs to encourage business innovation,” Sato said.

“NINJA Startup Gateway aims to solve social problems through business by supporting Nigerian youth and accelerating their business.

“There are many Nigerian youths with innovative business ideas, but often those aren’t very profitable or sustainable. In NINJA Startup Gateway, we would like to contribute to the Nigerian society by creating a profitable and sustainable business.”

The JICA representative said his agency is aiming to create an environment where youth will create employment rather than look for jobs.

“What is important is that NINJA Startup Gateway creates an environment where the youth are focused on creating jobs rather than finding them,” he said.

“Thus, it provides an alternative solution to the problem of unemployment that is currently facing a majority of the youth.”

Adeseye Oguntade, NITDA representative, said NINJA will develop innovative solutions to challenges faced by traditional industries.

“I believe that this NINJA Gateway Abuja will provide a long-lasting solution to local challenges facing our dear country,” Oguntade said.

Also speaking, Samson Attah, Aiivon Innovation Hub CEO, said the NINJA project accommodates startups that are still at their “incubation level”.

“This programme that the Japanese government has brought together is something special and timely,” he said.

“Most of the programmes we have done tend to focus on startups that are on a certain level. But for the first time, we have startups that have really good ideas. We are not looking at startups that are established but those that are at incubation level.”