We recently connected with Triumph Ogeh and have shared our conversation below.

Triumph, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

In Nigeria, the technology and innovation ecosystem is heavily concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, leaving cities like Akure with limited resources for aspiring tech talents and businesses. Akure Tech Hub (ATH) was established as a collaborative effort between the Ondo State government, the Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA) and Emerging Communities Africa to foster the growth of technology and social innovation in under-served communities.

We empower local talent and startups through:
1. Affordable coworking spaces: Providing a physical hub and fostering collaboration.
2. Free incubation and capacity building programs: Equipping individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in tech.
3. Mentorship and networking: Connecting aspiring talents with experienced professionals to bridge knowledge gaps and create a support network.
4. Funding access: Facilitating access to resources for startups to launch and grow.

ATH’s impact is undeniable: Since 2018, we have supported over 80 grassroots startups and tech-enabled businesses through cash donations, hackathons, and incubation programs. Across our core communities (Creatives, Data, and Techies), we have trained over 5,000 youths and placed over 200 in internships, apprenticeships, and jobs which demonstrates our commitment to building a skilled and thriving tech ecosystem in Akure. Other communities at ATH include Agritech, Blockchain, Business, Hernovate, Mechatronics, and Virtual Reality

Our Hernovate community focuses on women in tech and business and is divided into three categories namely;
1. She Codes – aimed at empowering the female gender by equipping them with coding skills using various technologies.
2. She Creates – aimed at empowering the female gender by assisting them in developing a diverse range of creative, design, and artistic skills.
3. Boss Lady – focused on providing female entrepreneurs with capacity-building opportunities, funding and support for business incubation. We funded 3 female-led businesses in 2023.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Triumph Ogeh, a Data Analyst with a passion for empowering communities. My journey began by combining my computer science background with my love of statistics, leading me to delve into data analysis and community building. I currently manage Akure Tech Hub, where I also leverage my data analysis skills to help individuals and businesses unlock valuable insights from their data.

At Akure Tech Hub, we’re all about levelling the playing field. We provide co-working spaces at the most affordable rate with reliable internet and power for 24 hours 7 days a week, equipping local talents and businesses with the resources they need to compete globally. We offer free capacity-building programs and bridge the gap between the government, academia, and the private sector to create a supportive ecosystem.

Our greatest reward comes from witnessing the success stories within our community – startups getting funded, talents landing dream jobs, or receiving recognition for their excellence. These achievements showcase the transformative power of Akure Tech Hub, empowering individuals and businesses to thrive from Akure, Ondo State.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Akure Tech Hub’s reputation stems from its unique tripartite structure: the government, academia, and private sector all come together under one roof. This unique model allows us to provide access to government scholarships and funding opportunities, connect talents with internship and job placements in leading companies, and facilitate research collaborations with university faculty as we are located on campus. This synergy has been a major contributing factor to building our reputation as a hub for innovation and empowerment.

Our support for indigenous initiatives and programs as well as our partnership with the Ministry of Education to set up the Young Programmers Club, a coding club for children aged 9-15 in Ondo State has also contributed to our strong reputation.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Three key strategies fuel our client growth: Capacity Building: Eight out of nine communities focused solely on capacity building which allows us to equip individuals with the skills and resources they need to thrive in the tech industry. We also provide a comprehensive learning environment that attracts aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a strong sense of belonging.

Engaging Social Media: We leverage this strong community on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter to showcase the amazing talents and startups within our community through engaging video content like inspiring success stories, interviews with industry experts, or even behind-the-scenes glimpses of our vibrant co-working space. This approach not only informs our audience about our offerings but also allows us to connect with them on a personal level. In the past two months alone, our social media efforts have resulted in a 22.5% increase in followers, 60% increase in video content engagement, and a significant rise in inquiries.

Strategic Partnerships: Partnering and supporting programs and initiatives like Founders Square, BCP Origin, Google Developer Groups and Cloud Computing Training with the Ondo State Information Technology Agency created valuable publicity for Akure Tech Hub. Attendees and beneficiaries of these initiatives become interested in our work and want to be part of our community, either through volunteering or other means.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.akuretechhub.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akure_techhub/
• Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/akuretechhub/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/akure_techhub