iDEA: another innovation to help build successful businesses in Nigeria

In bid to foster Nigeria’s growing entrepreneurial landscape, a new innovation hub has launched. Its aim, it says, is to “help Nigerian entrepreneurs create successful businesses”. The new hub, called Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) launched in 2013 and is a not-for-profit organisation aiming to accelerate the development of the technology industry in Nigeria.

The aptly named Lagos-based hub launched with four developers sessions facilitated by tech industry bigwigs: Google, BlackBerry, Microsoft and Nokia. The companies, as part of their support for the centre, provide entrepreneurs with tools to build software skills, solutions and businesses to aid their success.

According to a TechLoy report, each tech partner will focus on helping developers build for their platforms. Google’s sessions will focus on building Android apps with HTML5, while BlackBerry discusses BlackBerry’s support for the Nigerian tech ecosystem. As expected, Miscrosft will focus on developing for Windows 8 and Nokia, like BlackBerry, will explore the company’s support for Nigerian developers.

The hub states that it is particularly interested in “innovations in mobile apps, enterprise software, linguistic software, custom programming and business intelligence software”.

Aside from workshops and sessions facilitated by Google, Microsoft, BlackBerry and Nokia the programme also offers physical space and mentorship. “Entrepreneurs accepted into iDEA Centres receive support in the way of physical work space, shared facilities, training, mentoring and access to capital,” says the hub.

Like most of Lagos’ emerging tech space, the new hub is located in the tech trendy Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba — where Nigeria’s new innovation neighbourhood lies. The project, like most tech innovations in Nigeria, lists the government and academic institution as well as corporate as supporters.

Hat tip: TechLoy