The largest network of innovation hubs in Nigeria, Innovation Support Network (ISN) Hubs will be hosting its first annual ISN2019 Gathering themed: ‘Building Sustainable Hubs to Support Nigerian Entrepreneurs’ on the 23rd & 24th of October 2019 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.

Sponsored by the Ford Foundation; a private foundation with the mission of advancing human welfare, ISN2019 Gathering will bring together member hubs and other key ecosystem holders for learning, knowledge sharing, capacity development and networking as they review the previous year, receive insights into the future and plan the year ahead.

According to Hanson Johnson, ISN Hubs Ecosystem Director, “The constant increase in Nigeria’s youth population is an opportunity. It can also be a time bomb if their energy is not harnessed to facilitate Nigeria’s economic growth. Our innovation hubs are already providing the platform to achieve this.” 

“In order to achieve the scale of economic and social growth that Nigeria needs at the moment, we need to strengthen the institutions that provide services which contribute significantly to this growth. Innovation hubs across Nigeria fulfil an important role of supporting entrepreneurs build successful businesses that will create wealth, innovative solutions and jobs and ISN as a network organisation is an excellent platform we should all leverage on to collaborate with these hubs” – says Anna Ekeledo, Executive Director, AfriLabs.

ISN 2019 Gathering will feature Keynotes, Masterclasses, Panel Discussions, Exhibitions, and the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The 250 stakeholders expected at the gathering will include innovation hubs (and other entrepreneur support organizations), government and development agencies, angel investors and venture capitalists, corporate organisations, academia, startups and the media.

Urging other development partners and the private sector to support the rapidly growing Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem, Fayo Williams, ISN Hubs Partnerships Director and Founder, Exponential Hub stated that “Hubs must be strengthened and provided with everything required for sustainability if Nigeria is to achieve the SDGs particularly SDG 1: Zero Hunger and SDG 8: Decent work and Economic Growth”.

Innovation Support Network ISN is a not-for-profit association of entrepreneur support Hubs across Nigeria dedicated to job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact.