Fintech company Moniepoint has announced a N3 billion investment to establish innovation hubs across three Nigerian federal universities over the next three years, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s technology talent pipeline.
The company disclosed on Monday that the Moniepoint Innovation Hubs will be located at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
According to Moniepoint, the universities were selected to ensure balanced regional distribution of technology and innovation opportunities across Nigeria.
The initiative was formally unveiled at OAU, Ile-Ife, during a ceremony attended by vice chancellors of the three institutions, industry stakeholders, students, alumni, and members of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
What they are saying
Moniepoint said each innovation hub will function as a permanent training centre open to students across all faculties, offering hands-on programmes in software engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, product development, design, and entrepreneurship.
The company added that the hubs will operate structured cohort-based programmes combining mentorship, practical learning, and real-world project execution to improve students’ job readiness.
Speaking at the launch, Moniepoint Group co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, said the initiative is aimed at building a sustainable pipeline of industry-ready tech talent in 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 also disclosed that the company plans to expand the initiative to more tertiary institutions in the future.
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 will also provide curriculum support, mentorship, internship pathways, and expert-led learning sessions through its engineering, product, and business teams.
Students will also gain access to live projects and direct engagement with Moniepoint’s network of engineers, investors, and industry leaders.
What you should know
Moniepoint’s investment adds to ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technology talent base and expand access to innovation infrastructure.
While many innovation hubs are concentrated in cities such as Lagos and Abuja, this initiative aims to decentralise access by targeting students in other regions who are often excluded from the core of the tech ecosystem.
The company said the programme builds on earlier interventions through the Tosin Eniolorunda STEM Foundation, including a CAD/CAM laboratory worth over N100 million at OAU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
It also referenced the HatchDev programme at the University of Lagos, led by Moniepoint co-founder and CTO Felix Ike in partnership with NiITHub, which trains about 500 developers annually.
