Lagos: IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited (NYSE: IHS) (“IHS Towers”) group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world by tower count, has partnered with the Ilorin Innovation Hub to host the maiden edition of its Demo Day at the state-of-the-art facility in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The event, themed “The Convergence,” is designed to spotlight 19 emerging startups that have participated in the Hub’s accelerator and incubation programs, and invite them to pitch their solutions to investors, venture capital funds, corporate partners, and the media.
The Ilorin Innovation Hub, a partnership between the Kwara State Government and IHS Nigeria, began operations in February 2025 with programs managed by Co-creation Hub and Future Africa. The Demo Day presents an opportunity to take stock and assess how the Ilorin Innovation Hub is helping to nurture and bring to life groundbreaking ideas and solutions supporting economic resilience and addressing real-world societal challenges.
The event is expected to help unlock funding opportunities, foster strategic collaborations, and amplify visibility for these startups that are developing solutions across critical sectors including agriculture, health-tech, green energy, lifestyle, and digital services.
Beyond the startup showcase, the Demo Day highlights Kwara State’s continued commitment to driving digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and IHS Nigeria’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and deepening the digital economy in Nigeria.
Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, commented, “We believe innovation and digital technology are powerful drivers of economic growth and sustainable development. This is why we partnered with the Kwara State Government on the Ilorin Innovation Hub. It is impressive and very fulfilling to see the diverse portfolio of ideas and solutions showcased today from the hub within a year of the commencement of operations. This speaks to the depth of creativity among Nigerians and what is possible when they are equipped and supported. Today’s event makes me proud of our investment in the space and underscores IHS Nigeria’s continued commitment to supporting technology, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation in Nigeria.”
Temi Kolawole, Managing Director, Ilorin Innovation Hub, commented, “Today, we showcase 19 startups that have shown that when you combine talent with the right support, the results speak for themselves. The Ilorin Innovation Hub exists to ensure that geography is never a barrier to building something extraordinary, and this Demo Day is proof that we are on the right track.”
