The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has opened applications for the fifth cohort of its iHatch startup incubation programme aimed at supporting early-stage Nigerian founders.
ONDI announced the opening in a post shared on its official X account on Wednesday, calling on founders at the idea and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage to apply for the programme.
According to the agency, the programme is designed to help entrepreneurs move from the idea stage to building workable products through mentorship, training, and startup support.
“iHatch is built for founders at the idea to MVP stage, helping you move from just thinking to actually building,” ONDI said in the post.
Applications officially opened on May 6, 2026, through the programme portal.
The iHatch programme is one of NITDA’s major startup support initiatives focused on strengthening Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem. The programme is implemented by ONDI in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Information on the programme portal shows that startups at both the idea stage and MVP stage are eligible to apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must be willing to register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) during the programme.
The programme focuses on sectors including FinTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, logistics, security, and GovTech.
Selected participants will receive free training, mentorship sessions with tech experts, networking opportunities, coworking support, and access to funding opportunities.
Beyond supporting startups directly, Cohort 5 also adopts a nationwide incubation model that works through innovation hubs across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Under the arrangement, selected hubs will help coordinate startup incubation and mentorship activities at the state level.
ONDI said the approach is aimed at reducing the concentration of startup opportunities in major cities like Lagos and Abuja and extending support to founders in other parts of the country.
According to programme information released by ONDI, previous editions of iHatch have supported more than 200 startups and helped create over 1,000 jobs nationwide.
Interested founders can apply through the official iHatch portal