It’s almost 2018 and Lagos is gearing up for NG HUB, an initiative of Facebook in collaboration with CoCreation Hub (CCHub).
The hub, to be located in Lagos, would be multifaceted and built with ample creative space to connect developers, start-ups and the tech-savvy community. The hub will help in collaborations, learning and idea exchanges and also host a startup incubator programme, as well as bespoke training and a dedicated event space.
In November, Mr Emeka Afigbo, Facebook’s Head of Platform Partnerships, Middle East and Africa, had discussed during a news conference in Lagos that “Facebook will be supporting a number of existing technology hubs to serve the communities outside Lagos”.
Facebook intends to boost innovation and foster technology advancement in Nigeria. And the innovation hub would help to attract the best talents and drive innovation in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
The initiative will also involve the training of 50,000 students, small businesses and creative entrepreneurs in digital skills across Nigeria. The training programmes will include:
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Digital (in partnership with the Fate Foundation) – a four-week intensive programme for entrepreneurs across Nigeria. This will be offered throughout the year in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu
- Jobs for Youth: Coding for Employment – a training programme to develop Nigeria’s next generation of coders – designed to upskill developers and prepare them for employment
- Boost your Business: designed for small, medium-sized businesses owners, teaching the fundamentals of digital marketing for business growth, with the goal to help business owners better understand their brand, audience and how to best reach and service them online
- Creative Entrepreneurship Training: specialised training designed specifically for creatives, including photographers, filmmakers, musicians, artists, bloggers and other creative content creators
- Online Safety + Digital Literacy Training in Schools and Universities: featuring a series of online safety and digital literacy courses for secondary school and university students
This is a great opportunity for Nigeria as the new generation of Nigerians are highly tech enthusiastic and Facebook’s passion for nurturing technology and start-up communities is sure to help build the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in this great nation.