Giant social networking service company Facebook is reportedly planning to launch a new incubation programme in partnership with its satellite hubs across Nigeria on February 4.
This is a part of Facebook’s Nigeria Initiatives aimed at driving innovation, skills development and economic impact across Nigeria. The company kick started the initiative by launching NG_Hub in May 2018, in Lagos, to provide a haven for startups to collaborate, learn and exchange ideas.
At the launch of NG_Hub, Facebook announced that it will work with seven selected hubs across Nigeria as partners. The hubs include CoLab in Kaduna, Roar Nigeria in Enugu, nHub in Jos, Ken Saro Wiwa Innovation Hub in Port Harcourt, Ventures Platform in Abuja, Di-Hub in Kano, and Start Innovation Hub in Uyo.
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All eight participating hubs (including NG_Hub) will host and facilitate the 8-month incubation programme. The programme is already accepting applications from interested entrepreneurs and successful applicants will reportedly be graduating with startups from the ongoing Facebook Accelerator programme.
The incubation programme aims to help new startups “take their solutions the ideation stage to prototype through mentorship with industry experts and practical training sessions", providing them with the foundational skills they need to build successful businesses.
Speaking on the programme, Facebook Developer Program Manager Kendra Nnachi said; “Our aim for these kind of initiatives is to empower entrepreneurs. We believe that this programme will increase the quality and longevity of the Nigerian startup scene by not only providing specialist knowledge and mentoring to the participants, but also by creating a community that gives them room to share and grow.”
