Nigeria's innovators are stronger together.
NICE is a pilot programme connecting Nigeria's innovation clusters with the United Kingdom — for knowledge, expertise, and co-created solutions.
We Have the Talent. We Have the Ideas. But We're Working in Silos.
Nigeria's innovation ecosystem is growing fast — across FinTech, Agri-Tech, Manufacturing, Cyber Tech, and more. But our hubs, startups, and support organisations are largely disconnected from each other and from global best practices.
NICE was built to change that.
A New Model for Innovation in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Innovation Cluster Exchange (NICE) is a structured pilot initiative that brings Nigerian innovation clusters together with United Kingdom innovation partners — for learning, collaboration, and building real solutions to real problems.
NICE is implemented by The Nest Innovation Technology Park in partnership with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Digital Access Programme, with support from the UK Tech Hub.
Built for the Builders of Nigeria's Innovation Economy.
Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs)
Hubs, accelerators, and incubators looking to strengthen their cluster impact.
Startups & SMEs
Businesses operating in key sectors ready to collaborate and scale.
Research & Academic Institutions
Universities and research centres contributing knowledge and talent.
State Agencies & Government Partners
Public sector stakeholders invested in sector-level innovation outcomes.
Five Phases. One Mission.
NICE is a 6-month pilot programme.
- 01
Cluster Mapping
6 WeeksWe identify and document innovation clusters across key sectors, building a live database of stakeholders and infrastructure.
- 02
Pipeline Clinics
12 WeeksVirtual, expert-led sessions strengthening clusters on innovation management, prototyping, partnerships, and peer exchange.
- 03
Expert-in-Residence
4 WeeksUK experts are embedded within Nigerian clusters. Select Nigerian leaders travel to the UK for reciprocal learning.
- 04
Innovation Sprints
3 MonthsIn-person, sector-focused co-design sessions where Nigerian and UK teams build and validate prototypes together.
- 05
Sustainability Model
Each cluster establishes its own governance structure — a Cluster Coordinator and Cluster Council — so the work continues long after the pilot.
Five Locations. One Connected Ecosystem.
Kano
Reducing post-harvest losses and building digital agriculture solutions.
Abuja (FCT)
Building trust and security infrastructure for Nigeria's digital economy.
Aba, Abia State
Strengthening product standards, skills, and trade integration.
Port Harcourt
Advancing digital health solutions and care delivery infrastructure.
Ogun State
Driving industrial innovation and technology-led production.
More Than a Programme. A Real Competitive Advantage.
- →Direct mentorship from UK innovation experts
- →Co-developed, validated prototypes for real sector challenges
- →Stronger visibility and credibility within a structured network
- →Access to cross-cluster learning and peer exchange
- →A foundation for future partnerships, funding, and scale
- →No participation fee — programme costs are covered
Real Results. Within 6 Months.
Innovation clusters activated across Nigeria
Strengthened with improved innovation systems
Validated prototypes co-developed with UK partners
Live, national innovation cluster mapping framework
Strong Partnerships. Serious Institutions.
Who's Building This With Us.
The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub
The UK Nigeria Tech Hub, part of the UK Government's Digital Access Programme, delivers the FCDO's Digital Development Strategy by supporting inclusive, responsible, and sustainable digital transformation in Nigeria's tech and digital innovation sectors.
The Nest Innovation Technology Park
The Nest is a leading African innovation hub and ESO. It provides the incubation, research, and policy frameworks necessary to help founders, researchers, and technical talent build sustainable, high-impact innovation systems.
Got Questions? We Have Answers.
A national platform designed to strengthen Nigeria's innovation ecosystem by connecting innovation clusters across the country — innovators, hubs, ESOs, universities, research institutions, investors, corporates, policymakers, development partners, and government agencies. Rather than another standalone programme, NICE is building a stronger, more connected ecosystem where every stakeholder can thrive together.
Nigeria has no shortage of innovation — what has been missing is coordination. Hubs, startups, universities, and investors often do remarkable work in isolation, leading to duplicated effort, missed collaboration, limited access to investment, and weak policy coordination. NICE creates a structured platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordinated action.
Innovation hubs, startup founders, ESOs, universities and research institutions, investors and VC firms, government MDAs, policymakers, corporates, development partners, and ecosystem builders. Whether you support, fund, regulate, or create innovation, NICE provides a platform for meaningful engagement.
NICE takes a cluster-based approach across Agriculture & Agritech, Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Cybertech, Digital Economy, HealthTech, Climate & Green Economy, Blue Economy, Creative & Cultural Industries, EdTech, FinTech, Circular Economy, Logistics & Mobility, and emerging technologies. Additional clusters may be added as the programme expands.
Cross-sector collaborations and strategic partnerships, increased visibility, knowledge exchange, connections to investors and policymakers, participation in ecosystem and policy dialogues, exposure to successful cluster models, joint project and funding opportunities, and a role in shaping Nigeria’s national innovation agenda.
The pilot phase runs over several months, covering ecosystem mapping, stakeholder engagement, learning exchanges, and documentation. The long-term vision extends well beyond the pilot into a sustaining national platform.
Ecosystem mapping, stakeholder dialogues, learning exchanges between clusters, workshops, collaborative problem-solving, policy engagement, networking, and showcasing initiatives — practical and action-oriented, not just attendance.
Participation in the NICE pilot is fully funded for selected participants. There are no participation fees.
NICE is implemented by The Nest Innovation Technology Park in partnership with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Digital Access Programme, with support from the UK Tech Hub — alongside Nigerian ecosystem stakeholders, public institutions, private sector organisations, and academia.
Insights and successful models from the pilot inform a long-term national innovation cluster framework — expanding to more states and sectors, strengthening regional clusters, and building a self-sustaining national community of practice.
Stronger collaboration between ecosystem stakeholders, better-connected clusters, increased knowledge sharing, improved coordination between government, academia, industry and innovators, and a more inclusive, globally competitive innovation ecosystem.
Email contactus@thenest.ng, call +234 809 055 4170, or visit www.thenest.ng.
Ready to Build Nigeria's Innovation Future?
Whether you're a hub, a startup, a university, or a government agency — if you're building something that matters, NICE is for you.