In January 2020, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched Project NINJA ( Next Innovation with Japan) to support entrepreneurs around the world. The objectives of the initiative are to strengthen the startup ecosystem and to foster collaboration between Japan and the startups in each continent. This would entail innovating together and co-creating sustainable and prosperous economic growth.

The NINJA Business Plan competition sought solutions in sectors that were addressing the COVID-19 pandemic including health, disaster management, education, food and agriculture, finance and logistics.

In 2021, the eight startups selected from Nigeria were TradeBuza, an agritech company, RouteMasters, a startup operating in the transport sector, Gradely Technology, an edtech startup, Utiva, a tech talent development company, Emergency Response Africa, RxAll, Lifestores Pharmacy and MyClinic – all in healthcare.

This report highlights these startups and their activities but digs deeper to analyze Nigeria’s startup ecosystem as a whole, pointing out the key players, weaknesses and opportunities for growth in each of the six geo-political zones, pulling insights from a range of industry stakeholders (including investors and other founders) outside the selected startups.

TechCabal’s research and consultancy unit, TechCabal Insights produced this report in partnership with Ventures Platform Foundation.