The Co-creation Hub (CcHUB), launched a Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda yesterday the 14th of February 2019. Co-Creation Hub, commonly referred to as Cc-HUB or the HUB, is a technology-oriented centre located in Yaba, a district of Lagos. Founded in 2010 by Bosun Tijani and Femi Longe, it provides a platform where technology-oriented people share ideas to solving social problems in Nigeria.
This launch marks CcHUB’s debut in East Africa. They plan to invest up to 11 million USD as regards its expansion in Rwanda. The launch also aligns with her commitment to solve Africa’s devlopment and social challenges.
Bosun Tijani—CEO, CcHub “With the CcHUB Design lab, we will be collaborating with organizations that may not have the capacity to design, build and innovate as quickly as leaner startups would. The lab will also build on CcHUB’s extensive global and pan-African network of partners, research institutes and governmental organizations to execute practical design projects that will solve some of our social and business challenges at scale.”
The Design Lab will suffice as a creative space for collaboration and innovation between, domain experts and technical personnels, on Africa’s biggest challenges in Public health, Education and Governance.
CcHUB has been significant to the development of Nigeria’s tech startup community. They have been able to build a community of thousands of technologists, entrepreneurs and thought-leaders.
See Also: CcHub Is Launching its First Design Lab in Kigali
The hub has aided the grooming of over 100 early-stage ventures, through providing solutions to social problems with technology. The startups include; Lifebank, a digital blood bank; WeCyclers, an effective waste management startup; and Budgit, a civic organization facilitating citizens engagement with public data.
Tijiani said they chose Rwanda due to the ease of running a business in the country. He said “Whilst our work from the lab will focus on the entire continent, we chose Rwanda as the country to operate from because of the ease of doing business in the country. Additionally, by collaborating with the Government of Rwanda, whose vision aligns with ours, we hope to find solutions that will enable socio-economic development, productivity and development across Africa.”
Rwanda has been attracting investors lately; software developer training company, Andela also chose Kigali as their fourth African tech hub, Alibaba launched first electronic world trade hub (eWTP) there too, Volkswagen launched what is now called Rwanda’s first car-assembly plant. They are also set to launch their First Smartphone factory in April.