IHS Nigeria has partnered with the Ilorin Innovation Hub to host the maiden edition of its Demo Day in Ilorin. The event, themed “The Convergence,” is designed to spotlight 19 emerging startups that have completed the hub’s accelerator and incubation programmes, offering them a platform to pitch their solutions to investors, venture capital firms, corporate partners, and the media.
The Ilorin Innovation Hub, a collaboration between the Kwara State Government and IHS Nigeria, commenced operations in February 2025, with programmes managed by Co-creation Hub and Future Africa. The Demo Day provides an opportunity to assess the hub’s early impact in nurturing innovative ideas and translating them into viable businesses that address real world challenges while contributing to economic resilience.
Startups participating in the showcase are developing solutions across key sectors including agriculture, health technology, green energy, lifestyle, and digital services. Organisers say the event is expected to unlock funding opportunities, foster strategic partnerships, and increase visibility for the startups as they seek to scale their operations. It also reflects broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by connecting emerging founders with capital and industry networks.
Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish, said the initiative underscores the role of digital technology and innovation in driving economic growth, noting that the diversity of ideas emerging from the hub highlights the potential of Nigerian entrepreneurs when properly supported. Managing Director of the hub, Temi Kolawole, added that the Demo Day demonstrates how access to the right resources can unlock talent, reinforcing the hub’s mission to ensure that location does not limit the ability to build impactful and scalable solutions.