Nigeria Launches $12m Entrepreneurship Centre to Support Startups, Create Jobs

The Federal Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Republic of Korea have launched the construction of a $12 million Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE).

This initiative is designed to help young Nigerians transform business ideas into sustainable enterprises and create jobs.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Industrial Development Centre in Idu, Abuja, marking the transition of the project from planning to construction.

The project is being funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), with SMEDAN serving as the government partner and UNDP supporting infrastructure delivery.

When completed, the centre is expected to provide entrepreneurs, startups and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with access to business incubation, digital skills training, co-working spaces, technical expertise, mentorship and enterprise development services.

Speaking on the initiative, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, said the centre would help address some of the barriers that prevent promising business ideas from becoming viable companies.

He noted that many potentially job-creating ideas fail to progress because their founders lack access to the right knowledge, resources and support systems.

The centre will particularly support entrepreneurs working in emerging areas such as fintech, agritech and healthtech, while helping them refine their products, understand their markets, develop pricing strategies and strengthen financial and governance structures needed to attract investment.

The Vice President also highlighted the growing importance of digital skills and artificial intelligence, stressing the need for Nigerian youths to move beyond consuming technology to developing solutions, building businesses and competing in international markets.

For SMEDAN, the project forms part of its GROW Nigerian Strategy, which focuses on skills development, access to finance and markets, as well as productive infrastructure for small businesses.

SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii, said the centre would provide entrepreneurs with access to facilities and specialised resources that many early-stage businesses cannot afford to establish independently.

He described the ACE as a physical platform for translating the agency’s entrepreneurship and enterprise-development objectives into practical support for businesses.

UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said the initiative would help convert Nigeria’s large youth population into a stronger pipeline of entrepreneurs and employment opportunities.

The Abuja centre is also expected to serve businesses beyond its immediate beneficiaries by providing MSMEs in Abuja and surrounding areas with access to innovation infrastructure, business development services and specialised expertise.

The project comes as the Federal Government and UNDP expand efforts to build Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. In April 2026, UNDP announced a nationwide University Innovation Pods (UniPods) initiative aimed at expanding advanced digital and innovation skills to more than 500,000 young people, while supporting thousands of startups and enterprises.

Similarly, UNDP’s Young Africa Innovates programme has been supporting young Nigerian innovators with incubation, mentorship, product development, commercialisation support and access to financing pathways. Its first cohort reportedly incubated 205 innovators and contributed to the creation of 815 employment opportunities.

With construction now underway, the Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship is expected to become another key component of Nigeria’s growing support system for startups and MSMEs, helping entrepreneurs move from ideas and prototypes to commercially viable businesses.

The broader objective is to strengthen entrepreneurship, improve access to business support and create an environment where Nigerian startups can grow, attract investment and generate sustainable employment.