UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Launches NICE to Connect Nigeria’s Startup Ecosystem
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and The Nest Innovation Technology Park have launched the Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange (NICE), a pilot programme that began today, July 6, 2026, to knit together Nigeria’s fragmented innovation ecosystem. Funded by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and run by The Nest, NICE will map innovation clusters across the country’s six geopolitical zones, foster knowledge exchange between Nigerian and UK ecosystems, support collaborative product development, and set up governance so clusters can operate independently after the pilot.
The initiative targets sectors vital for economic diversification—agritech, cybersecurity and healthtech—while responding to stark realities: over 53% of young Nigerians are underemployed and fewer than 10% of startups survive past their third year. By connecting Entrepreneurship Support Organisations, research institutions, startups and government agencies through a national exchange, NICE aims to reduce duplicated efforts and improve access to incubation and acceleration services regardless of geography.
ESOs, research bodies and other industry stakeholders are invited to join the pilot; interested parties should reach out to The Nest Innovation Technology Park or the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub for participation details. This launch follows the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub’s Creative Fund, introduced in April to boost digital capacity in Nigeria’s film, fashion and music industries.