UK-Nigeria Partnership Launches Innovation Network to Strengthen Startup Ecosystem

The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, in partnership with The Nest Innovation Technology Park, has launched the Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange (NICE), a new initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration across Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and improving the long-term success of startups.

Supported through the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, the initiative seeks to address fragmentation within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding technology sector by creating a connected, data-driven national innovation network.

Although Nigeria has emerged as one of Africa’s leading technology hubs, with significant growth in sectors such as fintech, agritech and health technology, startup support organisations, innovation hubs and research institutions often operate independently. This fragmented approach has resulted in duplicated efforts, limited collaboration and a low startup survival rate, with fewer than 10 per cent of new ventures remaining operational beyond their third year.

According to The Nest Innovation Technology Park, the Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange is designed to bridge these gaps by fostering stronger coordination among key stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem.

The pilot programme will focus on four strategic priorities: mapping innovation clusters across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, facilitating knowledge exchange with UK innovation partners, supporting collaborative product development and establishing a sustainable framework to ensure the programme’s long-term impact.

Co-founder of The Nest Innovation Technology Park, Oluwajoba Oloba, described the initiative as an important step towards building a more coordinated innovation ecosystem capable of driving national economic development.

According to Oloba, the programme is intended to shift Nigeria’s innovation landscape from isolated centres of excellence to a connected ecosystem that enables collaboration, shared learning and greater economic impact.

The initiative builds on insights gathered during the 2025 UK Digital Trade and Innovation Tour and will prioritise sectors considered critical to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, including agricultural technology, cybersecurity and health technology.

By encouraging collaboration between innovation clusters, facilitating expert exchanges and promoting cross-regional learning, the programme aims to ensure that entrepreneurs and innovation support organisations can access expertise and opportunities regardless of their geographic location.

The pilot phase of the Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange commenced on 6 July 2026, with entrepreneurship support organisations, research institutions and industry stakeholders invited to participate in shaping a more integrated and resilient innovation ecosystem for Nigeria.