Fintech company, Moniepoint, has announced a N3 billion investment to establish innovation hubs across three Nigerian federal universities over the next three years as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s technology talent pipeline.
The company disclosed on Monday that the Moniepoint Innovation Hubs will be established at Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University.
According to the company, the institutions were strategically selected to ensure that technology and innovation opportunities are distributed across Nigeria’s major geographic regions rather than concentrated in a single city.
The initiative was formally unveiled on Monday at OAU, Ile-Ife, during a ceremony attended by vice chancellors of the three universities, industry stakeholders, student representatives, alumni, and members of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
What they are saying
Moniepoint said each innovation hub will function as a permanent training centre for students across all faculties, offering hands-on programmes in software engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, product development, design, entrepreneurship, and related technology disciplines.
The company added that the hubs would operate through structured cohort-based programmes that combine mentorship, practical learning, and real-world project execution aimed at improving students’ career readiness.
Speaking at the event, Moniepoint Group co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, said the initiative was designed to help build a sustainable pipeline of industry-ready technology talent within Nigeria.
- “When you look at the success of companies like Moniepoint, it’s easy to forget that it all started with the foundational training we received right here in Nigerian universities,” he said.
- “Nigeria’s digital economy cannot run on potential alone; it requires immense, localized talent density. By launching these Innovation Hubs beginning with OAU, UNN, and ABU Zaria, we are intentionally anchoring world-class technical skills across the country,” he added.
Eniolorunda further disclosed that the company plans to expand the initiative to other tertiary institutions in the future.
More insights
Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, described the partnership as a major boost for higher education and innovation in Nigeria.
- “This partnership with Moniepoint Group is a powerful affirmation of our belief that knowledge must serve society,” he said.
- “The Moniepoint Innovation Hub will not only expand what our students can learn but also transform what they believe is possible,” he added.
Beyond funding the physical hubs, Moniepoint said it would also provide curriculum support, mentorship opportunities, internship pathways, and expert-led learning sessions through its engineering, product, and business teams.
According to the company, students participating in the programme will gain access to live projects and direct connections to Moniepoint’s wider network of engineers, investors, and industry leaders.
What you should know
Moniepoint’s investment in the hubs add to the efforts to boost local tech talents in the country.
While most innovation hubs in Nigeria are concentrated in major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, the latest initiative comes as a deliberate attempt to take these facilities to young Nigerians in other parts of the country, who are missing out on the tech revolution.
The company said the new initiative builds on previous investments made through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, including the establishment of a CAD/CAM laboratory valued at over N100 million at OAU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
It also referenced the HatchDev programme at the University of Lagos, championed by Moniepoint co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Felix Ike, in partnership with NiITHub innovation centre, which trains about 500 developers annually.
Source: https://nairametrics.com/
