Nigeria Startup Digital Innovation Academy (ACE) Establishment Project: PMC First Deployment Inception Survey

Project Overview

• This is the plan for the first PMC (Project Management Consulting) inception survey deployment of a project supporting the innovative growth of youth and SMEs through the establishment of the Nigeria Startup Digital Innovation Academy (ACE).
• Reflecting the outcomes of technical negotiations and contracting, the deployment aims to review the preconditions for project delivery and to refine the implementation strategy for the second deployment onward.
• The team plans to consult with KOICA, SMEDAN, the Nigerian federal government, universities and investor networks to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the policy, regulatory, education, ICT and startup support environment.
• Given delays in the construction of the ACE center, alternative operating arrangements will be developed so that programs can run before the center opens.

Deployment Overview

• The deployment runs from January 20 to February 14, 2026 (25 nights, 26 days), based in Abuja, Nigeria, with a business trip to Lagos.
• Twelve experts from the Soongsil University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation consortium are participating, including three MAINCONTENTS experts responsible for startup and business growth education, competition BM and IR, and startup investment and finance mentoring and IR.

MAINCONTENTS Areas of Responsibility

• The startup and business growth education expert will observe existing startup education and incubation programs in Abuja and assess education levels and gaps through interviews with instructors, program alumni and startups.
• The competition BM and IR expert will analyze existing incubation and mentoring programs and, through interviews with local investors and accelerators, develop a baseline competition model and an operating plan for the first competition.
• The startup investment and finance mentoring and IR expert will assess investment literacy and IR experience through interviews with startups and program alumni, and, through research on investors and accelerators, design the seed-stage investment landscape analysis and the structure of mentoring and IR programs.

Key Activities

• During the first deployment, the team will hold inception reports, kickoff briefings and institutional meetings with KOICA, SMEDAN, NITDA, universities and investor networks.
• The startup ecosystem will be surveyed through interviews with universities and strategic-industry companies in Abuja.
• A business trip to Lagos is planned to study private-sector and international startup support models (banks, UNDP Timbuktoo, startup hubs, accelerators and more).
• Based on the findings, the team will define the curriculum level, competition and IR operating structure, and preconditions for the mentoring system to be applied from the second deployment, and plans to sign MOUs with government agencies, implementing partners and investor networks.

Deliverables

• A diagnostic report on startup and business growth education, draft curricula and teaching materials, and an instructor competency assessment form are planned.
• An analysis report on incubation operations and an operating plan for the first competition are planned.
• A diagnostic report on the investment environment and IR capabilities, along with a summary of investment linkage opportunities and constraints, is planned.