iHatch Cohort 5 Residency Gains Momentum as ONDI and NITDA Strengthen Nigeria’s Innovation Ecosystem

By Tolulope Oke

The iHatch Cohort 5 Hub Managers Residency Upskilling Programme currently underway in Abuja is recording strong progress, bringing together innovation ecosystem leaders, hub managers, and key stakeholders for an intensive and practical capacity-building experience. The programme, driven by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) through the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), is designed to strengthen the operational, strategic, and leadership capabilities required to build and sustain high-impact innovation hubs across Nigeria and beyond.

As the residency continues, participants are engaging with real-world insights and tested frameworks that move beyond theory into the practical realities of ecosystem development. Sessions drawing from the experiences of Ilorin Innovation Hub and CcHub Namibia have provided valuable perspectives on how innovation hubs can be effectively structured, funded, and managed for long-term sustainability. These discussions have emphasized the importance of building resilient systems, fostering strategic partnerships, and aligning innovation activities with local and regional economic needs.

A major highlight of the programme has been the fireside conversation titled “Zero to One: Lessons from Established Hub Operators.” The session brought together respected ecosystem leaders including Jude Feranmi Adejuwon, Temi Kolawole, Ifeanyi Iloh, and Dr. Odiong Akpan. Through candid and experience-driven discussions, the speakers shared practical lessons on building innovation hubs from the ground up, scaling programmes, navigating operational challenges, and creating structures that deliver measurable and lasting impact. Their contributions provided participants with actionable insights into what it takes to transition from early-stage ideas to fully functional and sustainable innovation ecosystems.

The programme has also incorporated a virtual learning session led by Seun Adepoju, PhD, focused on Design Thinking as a structured and user-centered methodology for solving complex problems. This session introduced participants to practical tools for problem identification, ideation, prototyping, and validation — reinforcing the need to design solutions that are not only innovative but also relevant and market-driven.

Complementing the learning sessions are hands-on workshops facilitated by Olamiposi Ekuma, where participants are actively applying knowledge by designing startup support programmes, developing selection frameworks, and identifying high-potential ventures. These practical sessions are equipping hub managers with the tools to build structured pipelines that can consistently nurture and scale startups within their respective ecosystems.

Overall, the iHatch Cohort 5 Hub Managers residency programme is steadily reinforcing a critical message for innovation stakeholders: impactful ecosystems are not built on ideas alone. They require deliberate design, strong institutional frameworks, strategic execution, and a sustained commitment to growth. As the programme progresses, it continues to position participants to return to their communities with the capacity to drive meaningful innovation, support entrepreneurship, and contribute to broader economic development.