KOICA Nigeria Startup Support Project Concludes Invitational Training Program, Strengthening Policy and Startup Ecosystem Cooperation
The KOICA Nigeria Startup Support Project successfully completed its invitational training program. Participants explored Korea’s startup policies, investment linkage models, and DX/AX transformation cases. The program helped strengthen policy cooperation and future directions for ACE operations in Nigeria.
The invitational training program under the “Project for Establishing a Startup Digital Innovation Academy to Support Youth and SME Innovation Growth in Nigeria,” supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has been successfully completed.
The program was implemented by a consortium consisting of Soongsil University, Maincontents, and Eduniety Lab, with participation from SMEDAN and policy officials from relevant Nigerian federal government agencies. The training was organized to share Korea’s experience in startup policy and ecosystem development while exploring operational strategies and policy cooperation models applicable to Nigeria’s local context.
Throughout the program, participants attended lectures covering Korea’s startup support policies, private investment promotion strategies, startup incubation systems, fundraising and venture investment structures, as well as DX/AX policy transformation. Participants also examined Korea’s startup ecosystem through real operational cases, including innovation center management models, the TIPS program, and government–local–corporate collaboration frameworks.
The training also included a series of institutional and field visits. Participants visited the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, the Korea Angel Investment Association (TIPS), Seoul TOPIS, and the KDI Exhibition Hall to experience Korea’s innovation policies and digitally driven operational systems firsthand. During the visit to HYBE, discussions also took place on the convergence of content industries and global business expansion models.
In addition to lectures, the program incorporated workshops and discussion sessions. Participants discussed the current state of Abuja’s startup ecosystem and explored operational directions for the ACE initiative. Team presentations were also conducted to share mid- to long-term operational strategies and policy application plans.
Cultural experience programs were also organized as part of the training. Participants visited Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Cheonggyecheon, Myeongdong, and Namsan Tower, gaining firsthand experience of Korea’s history, culture, and urban environment. The program provided an opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding not only of Korea’s policies and industries, but also of Korean society and culture more broadly.
Hwang Gi-hyun, PM of the project, stated, “This invitational training program provided a meaningful opportunity to share Korea’s startup policies and ecosystem development experience while jointly exploring approaches that could be applied within Nigeria’s local context.”
He added, “We will continue supporting the development of a sustainable digital startup ecosystem through ongoing cooperation with the Nigerian government and related institutions.”
Meanwhile, the project aims to support innovation-driven growth for Nigerian youth and SMEs while establishing a sustainable digital startup ecosystem through the ACE operational model.
