IHS, Innovation Hub showcase 19 startups to global investors

No fewer than 19 high growth startups have been showcased at the maiden edition of the Ilorin Innovation Hub (IIH) Demo Day tagged, “Convergence” jointly convened by the IHS Nigeria with many startups presenting ideas shaped by local realities yet driven by global ambition. The event, which brought together government officials, corporate leaders, investors, and […]

No fewer than 19 high growth startups have been showcased at the maiden edition of the Ilorin Innovation Hub (IIH) Demo Day tagged, “Convergence” jointly convened by the IHS Nigeria with many startups presenting ideas shaped by local realities yet driven by global ambition.

The event, which brought together government officials, corporate leaders, investors, and members of the tech ecosystem, served as a platform to showcase the ingenuity, resilience, and problem-solving capabilities of Nigerian startups.

At its core, Demo Day was not just about pitching ideas; it was about validating the growing strength of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem beyond traditional hubs like Lagos.

Nine startups pitched their solutions to a room filled with expectation, each reflecting a different aspect of the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s digital economy.

The Demo Day coincided with the first anniversary of Ilorin Innovation Hub, the technology and innovation centre, located in Ilorin, capital of Kwara State which is an initiative of the state government, built and equipped in partnership with IHS Nigeria.

Covering a land area of over 13,000sqm, with seating capacity for over 1,000 users, the Ilorin Innovation Hub has been described as the biggest technology space of its kind in West Africa and considered a masterpiece of functional space and design architecture.

At the Demo Day, the various pitches presented centered on providing solutions to real, everyday problems. From energy access, to energy optimisation, business development, the presentations underscored the need for innovation in solving societal problems.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq represented by the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, emphasized the government’s commitment to building an enabling environment for innovation.

According to him, the Ilorin Innovation Hub represents more than just a physical space; it is a deliberate effort to cultivate a thriving community of innovators.

“We are creating a space where innovation can thrive and where our youths can develop beyond what they currently see,” he said, adding, “Our goal is to make Kwara a hub for technology where startups can grow, ideas can mature, and young people can build solutions that impact not just the state, but the country and beyond.”

The Demo Day also highlighted the critical role of infrastructure in enabling innovation. Representing IHS Nigeria, Chief Commercial Officer Akeem Adeshina, who spoke on behalf of CEO Dapo Otunla, stressed that innovation cannot thrive in isolation.

“At IHS, we understand that innovation requires sustainable infrastructure. That is the foundation we must all deliver,” he said, adding, “Our mission goes beyond building towers; we are enabling connectivity and building the digital future.”

Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, IHS Nigeria, Kazeem Oladepo, said in the last one year, IHS, through the innovation hub, had been able to grow and nurture talents who not only impact their communities but the larger society.

“Today we’re showcasing the work that they’ve done in the past few months, and we’re also looking at our journey so far with the state government in the aspiration to deepen talent, to create innovative businesses, to transform our communities and to change lives generally across communities where we operate. The investors we had today were just a small cluster of the interests that we have seen across both the local and international landscape. The startups we are showcasing have the ideas, concepts, and products that solve everyday problems, which you would see in almost all the accelerators or the incubators,” Oladepo said.

The startups themselves reflected a wide spectrum of innovation. Companies like Gauge and Flowsoft presented solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency for businesses, while GoChargeAm stood out with its ambition to build Africa’s largest last-mile energy network.

Beyond infrastructure, the importance of structured support systems for startups was another key theme. Temitope Yusuf, Vice President, Group Audit and Risk at IHS Towers, pointed out that many startups fail not due to lack of ideas, but because of fragmented support.

“In the past, we saw founders struggle with disconnected systems—some had funding but no mentorship, others had mentorship but no access to capital,” she explained, adding, “What we are building is a coordinated support structure that provides continuous guidance, not just a one-off incubation or acceleration programme.”

She added, “This programme is like a one-year review since the launch. Looking at all of the people that are going to do the acceleration programme and just wanted to pitch as they move through the next step. They have been through months of incubation, acceleration and it is for them to then showcase what products they are looking to impact the community and the larger business community.

“We have nine startups that went through the acceleration programme. They would seek for funds and then scale their business, scale their products and impact the larger society. The products that were pitched today are solving real-life problems. There were products pitched around energy, there were products pitched around waste and sustainability, among others.”

The Ilorin Innovation Hub itself stands as a testament to this evolving approach. Managing Director of IIH, Temi Kolawole, described Demo Day as both a milestone and a starting point.

“Demo Day is when you showcase what has been built, but it is also the beginning,” he said. “We should expect even bigger things from these startups going forward.”

Kolawole noted that the hub is focused on democratizing access to opportunities, particularly by bridging the digital divide. This includes providing startups with access to tools, mentorship, networks, and markets that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

The Director of Programmes at IIH, Mrs. Zumah Yahaya, revealed that the hub has supported 23 startups, with nine undergoing an intensive acceleration programme.