The Ilorin Innovation Hub, powered by IHS Nigeria, in partnership with Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), successfully hosted the Ilorin Innovation Challenge and Hackathon 2025 Pitch Event. This landmark event which held on the 3rd-5th November 2025 in Ilorin, spotlighted emerging innovators and startups creating practical solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth and developmental challenges.
Seventeen shortlisted innovators from the Hackathon stream and 11 startups from the Innovation Challenge joined an intensive bootcamp that commenced on 3 November 2025, culminating in a vibrant pitch event attended by creative thinkers, technologists, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders. From this group, 10 outstanding solutions comprising 3 startups and 7 Innovators were selected to receive funding, mentorship, and admission into a three-month incubation and pre-incubation programme at the Hub.
The Ilorin Innovation Challenge and Hackathon 2025 demonstrated a bold commitment to developing locally relevant innovations with strong potential. Over the past months, the programme engaged young innovators, founders, and researchers across tertiary institutions and hubs from eight states – Kwara, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and the FCT through community events, roadshows, and ecosystem activations.The Challenge focused on priority areas such as AI & disruptive technologies, CleanTech, HealthTech, Higher-education innovation, EdTech, Digital Studio & Creative Tech, and Connectivity & Big Data ensuring solutions addressed demonstrable community needs with clear paths to adoption.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Temi Kolawole, Managing Director of Ilorin Innovation Hub, described the programme as “a defining step in building a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem driven by local talent and supported by strategic partnerships.” He emphasized that “Ilorin is proving that innovation doesn’t only thrive in Nigeria’s biggest cities. It can emerge anywhere there is curiosity, courage and collaboration.”
Nissi Madu, Managing Partner at CcHUB, reinforced the importance of supporting innovators at the earliest stages of their journey. “CcHUB exists to make innovation accessible and to help ideas grow. The Ilorin Innovation Challenge and Hackathon reinforces the need to support innovators right from the earliest stage of their journey with mentorship, funding, and a vibrant community. Seeing young people travel from Abuja, Akure, and other cities to Ilorin to participate shows the passion and commitment driving Nigeria’s innovation story forward.,” she said.
The pitch event featured live demonstrations, panel evaluations, and networking sessions that connected innovators with development partners, members of the public, investors and government stakeholders. It marked a major milestone in Ilorin’s growing reputation as a hub for creativity, digital entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
As Africa’s leading innovation enabler, Co-creation Hub (CcHUB) continues to champion the growth of technology-driven enterprises that create measurable social and economic impact. Through this partnership, with the Ilorin Innovation Hub, CcHUB extends its decade-long experience in building innovation ecosystems to empower startups and innovators with structure, mentorship, and access to scale. This collaboration underscores both organisation’s shared commitment to nurturing innovation from the grassroots and driving sustainable development through technology in Nigeria and across Africa.
About Ilorin Innovation Hub
The Ilorin Innovation Hub powered by IHS Nigeria is a state-backed technology and entrepreneurship centre dedicated to fostering innovation, digital skills, and startup growth in North-Central Nigeria. Through programmes, partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, the Hub creates enabling pathways for innovators to transform ideas into sustainable enterprises.
About Co-creation HUB
CcHUB is leading pan-African creative and innovation centre for accelerating the application of social capital and technology for Africa’s prosperity.
With physical presence in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Namibia and ongoing program delivery supporting tech and creative industry innovators and entrepreneurs in over 40 countries in Africa, CcHUB is a key ecosystem player in the pan-African innovation, startup and creative ecosystems.