Co-creation HUB is Africa’s leading technology innovation ecosystem builder on a mission to accelerate the application of science, technology and social capital for economic prosperity across Africa.

Our 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 and innovators in building thoughtful, relevant and scalable solutions. From our locations in Lagos, Abuja, Ijebu Ode, Ilorin (in Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Windhoek (Namibia), and Kigali (Rwanda), Lome (Togo) we have built a vibrant community of over 81,000 people and counting and have supported to a portfolio of over 120 early-stage ventures including Lifebank, Ushahidi, Riby, BudgIT, Stutern, Kopo Kopo, Sendy, mFarm, Wecyclers and many more.

In 2019 iHUB became part of a wider collective of Co-Creation Hub Africa (CcHUB), which includes Design Lab in Rwanda, & CcHUB Namibia, Elimu, Syndicate & Growth Capital; all these companies collectively contribute to stimulating innovation and the application of technology across Africa for social impact across diverse sectors.  Together as CcHUB, we are Innovating for African Economic prosperity.

Job Purpose

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Program Manager to lead the execution of startup support initiatives at the Ilorin Innovation Hub. The Program Manager will play a critical role in shaping the innovation ecosystem by designing, managing, and scaling programs that support high-growth entrepreneurs. This role requires a strong ability to engage with key ecosystem stakeholders, including startups, investors, government bodies, academia, and corporate partners, to create a thriving, innovation-driven community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and execution of an innovation challenge, product showcase/demo day, pre-incubation and incubation programs tailored for the Ilorin Innovation Hub.

• Develop and manage partnerships with government agencies, investors, corporate organizations, and other key ecosystem players to foster collaboration and resource mobilization.

• Oversee the scouting, selection, and onboarding of high-potential startups into the Ilorin Innovation Hub’s programs, ensuring a strong pipeline of innovative ventures.

• Work with the Community team to plan weekly community outreach events aimed at activating the ecosystem in Ilorin and surrounding communities. 

• Design roadshows in collaboration with the community team to drive ecosystem engagement and startup outreach.

• Developing performance metrics for programs, monitor to measure and track progress, and fulfilling reporting requirements of funding agencies and stakeholders.

• Provide guidance to the Communications team on disseminating engaging and impactful content highlighting startup programs in the Ilorin Innovation Hub and beneficiary success stories (e.g. program highlights, interviews, alumni startup spotlights,  thought leadership content, etc.)

• Liaise with the internal CcHUB program team and Ilorin Innovation Hub staff to ensure smooth execution of all programs and activities.

• Coordinate efforts to support the alumni network including designing, deploying, and following through on implementing the alumni engagement plan.

• An educational background in Technology, Engineering, and/or Business-related fields.

• Minimum of 4+ years experience in program/project management in the startup space, enterprise development or consulting experience.

• Project Management certification is a plus.

• Passionate about technology, startups, innovation, with an understanding of the technology ecosystem.

• Entrepreneurial experience or experience working in a startup environment with demonstrated understanding of the technology and startup support ecosystem.

• Creative problem solver with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Organised, resourceful, able to take initiative and make sound decisions.

• Proven ability to nurture, support, and grow a vibrant community. 

• Ability to work well in a team and can individually prioritise multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft and Google suites.

A relocation allowance will be offered to successful candidates residing outside Ilorin Nigeria