Nigeria’s tech innovation centre CcHub has acquired Kenya’s iHub
One of the top technology innovation centres in Nigeria, Co-creation Hub (CcHub), has now bought iHub, its counterpart in Kenya. The amount for the acquisition is unknown at the moment.
CcHub’s acquisition of Kenya’s iHub will make the team at the Kenya tech centre part of CcHub’s central support and strategy network. Its name and accolades as iHub, and its senior management structure are going to remain intact as that’s part of the acquisition deal. But the co-founder of CcHub, Bosun Tijani, will now become the CEO for both CcHub and iHub.
CcHub seeks to strengthen its pan-African network and mobilise its far-reaching resources, network and relationships to accelerate the growth of technology innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa. With that focus, CcHub will now make key hires in iHub’s innovation consulting, people management, programme management, and community support
The CcHub iHub acquisition comes just 7 months after CcHUB extended their operations into Kigali, Rwanda, where it launched its Design Lab. The design lab is the first creative space in Africa that solely focuses on product design and technology innovation.
CcHub’s CEO, Bosun Tijani, remarked he and his outfit are a “long-time admirers and collaborators of iHub – a world-class community of developers, entrepreneurs and business people who have been instrumental in growing Kenya’s extraordinary technology ecosystem.”
“CcHUB’s mandate is to build a formidable innovation ecosystem with a deeply rooted network, cultivating strategic partnerships and practical industry know-how that can support entrepreneurs in building thoughtful, relevant and scalable solutions.
“We believe we can only do this if we are intentional and proactive in how we scale and grow our reach, not only across Africa but also internationally. This is the reason behind our acquisition of iHub and we continue to be bullish in our combined efforts in creating hundreds of thousands more opportunities for businesses across Africa”.
Nekesa J. Were, Managing Director for iHub adds, “Over the past 9 years, the iHub has been a catalyst for regional tech acceleration and a role model for innovation hubs across emerging markets. To-date, over USD 40m has been raised by iHub startups in early and growth stage financing and iHub portfolio businesses have contributed over 40,000 jobs to the East African economy. Their products have impacted millions.
“CcHUB has an unrivalled track record of building out a dynamic tech ecosystem which extends past Nigeria. Similar to us, they have been committed to delivering impactful support services, at scale, supporting tech and business communities and driving social capital for economic prosperity in Africa.
“In short – they share our mission to make businesses and the business environment on the continent, better for all. We are very excited to work with them to support entrepreneurs transforming our communities.”
CcHub was launched back in 2011. It has partnered with global tech-oriented organisations like Google for Start-ups, Oracle, and Facebook. Other partner organisations include Omidyar Network and the Ford Foundation.
Site in Lagos, CcHub can boast of a vibrant community of over 14,000 people. It has incubated and provided support to a portfolio of over 120 early-stage ventures. Adding to its portfolio, CcHub has provided solutions to social problems with technology including Lifebank, Riby, BudgIT and WeCyclers.
CcHUB is Africa’s first open living lab and pre-incubation space. It accommodates technologists, social entrepreneurs, government bodies, tech companies, impact investors and a lot more. It is one of the best tech centres to be instituted in Africa.
Established in 2010, iHub caters for internationally-recognised companies like BRCK and Ushahidi. And it’s not just those companies that benefit from iHub. Startups like Zayride, Eneza Education, Taimba, Optimetriks and over 500 companies have received business support services.