UK-Nigeria Tech Hub unveils social impact accelerator for entrepreneurs

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, an initiative by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS) has partnered with the Network of Incubators and Innovators in Nigeria (NINE) to launch an impact accelerator – ‘Social Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship’ for social impact entrepreneurs.

Selected entrepreneurs under the initiative will join the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub founder pipeline and gain access to resources and network.

In addition, they will undergo a bespoke 16-week in-person and virtual training, from local tech hubs and business leaders, designed to equip them with the expertise needed to scale their impact while remaining profitable.

Oyinkansola Akintola-Bello, country director of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub said, “This collaboration to scale social impact innovations underscores the UK’s commitment to nurturing brilliance in underserved regions, ensuring that every idea, regardless of location has the resource and support required to scale.”

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Interested entrepreneurs should visit https://sidenigeria.com to apply. In the build-up to the accelerator, NINE and Kaduna Business School developed a challenge brief to identify market and sector-specific gaps in health, climate change, education and food security affecting underserved populations in six pilot states in Nigeria – Edo, Adamawa, Kwara, Kaduna, Enugu and Osun states.

Bankole Oloruntoba, chairman of NINE said “It is imperative that we stimulate emerging city-based innovation ecosystems in Nigeria beyond Abuja and Lagos.”

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“This program is focused on these emerging state economies to stimulate the entrepreneurial economies as well as create job possibilities using digital tech.”

To become eligible for the programme, startups must be MVP-ready and female start-up founders and innovators are highly encouraged to apply.

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub stimulates local digital economies, supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth and jobs, builds high-end digital skills, and forge innovation partnerships between Nigerian tech sectors and international businesses.