A new revolution is quietly stirring in the heart of Jos, a city known for its rich cultural history and scenic landscapes. Beyond the vibrant art and music scenes, there is a budding tech community that is slowly but steadily positioning Jos as a rising tech hub in Nigeria. The latest milestone in this journey is the launch of Axia Hub‘s state-of-the-art coworking space, which promises to unlock new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and growth within the Plateau State’s tech ecosystem.
To understand the impact of this new space, I had a one-on-one interview with the CEO of Axia Hub, Nnamdi Ibe, who shared his vision and insights into why Jos—Nigeria and Africa as a whole—needs more coworking spaces like Axia’s to fuel its tech-driven future.
The Growing Need for Co-working Spaces in Jos
Jos is home to a growing tech ecosystem, but for a long time, it has struggled with the challenge of providing adequate infrastructure to support its tech-savvy youth. Most young entrepreneurs, developers, and digital creators often work from home or coffee shops or restaurants, isolated from the collaborative environments that spur innovation in more developed tech hubs like Lagos or Abuja. The lack of functional, affordable, and accessible office spaces has limited growth for many tech startups.
Nnamdi Ibe noted this gap early on and explained that it was a key motivator behind Axia Hub’s decision to establish a coworking space in Jos. “We noticed that there’s a hunger here,” Ibe said. “Young people in Jos are building things, coding, creating solutions, but they often lack access to resources and networks. A coworking space changes that dynamic. It creates a community where ideas are exchanged, mentorship happens organically, and opportunities are more accessible.”
In recent years, cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna have witnessed a tech boom mainly due to the proliferation of coworking spaces. These environments blend infrastructure, mentorship, and networking—an essential combination for early-stage startups looking to scale.
Also, according to a report by Emergen Research, Nigerian coworking space market demand is expected to grow from $100 million in 2022 to $500 million by 2027. This growth will be driven by the increasing number of freelancers and remote workers, the rising cost of office space, and the growing demand for flexible and affordable workspaces. The surge in coworking exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic is creating new opportunities for coworking spaces, as they can provide remote workers with a dedicated workspace and access to shared resources. Although the coworking space market in Nigeria remains relatively fragmented, with several small and medium-sized operators, over the coming years, we expect to see more established players starting to emerge. But Jos has been late to this trend, which Axia Hub is now actively addressing.
Building a Collaborative Culture
Unlike traditional office environments, coworking spaces offer an open, collaborative culture. Nnamdi and his Axia Hub team are particularly excited about this. “When people from different backgrounds come together in a shared space, magic happens,” he said with a smile. “You have someone building a mobile app sitting next to a social media marketer or a web developer collaborating with a fintech enthusiast. This is how ecosystems grow; it’s not just about working side by side but about bouncing ideas off each other and creating something bigger.”
According to Ibe, the coworking space model also helps entrepreneurs save costs, an essential factor for startups with limited budgets. By providing affordable workspaces, Axia Hub is helping to remove one of the significant barriers to entry for young entrepreneurs. “Starting a business is hard enough. We want to remove the financial strain of renting a traditional office so innovators can focus on what truly matters—building solutions that solve real problems.”
Fueling Tech-Driven Growth for Jos
Ibe’s optimism is grounded in a broader vision for Jos’ tech future. With the launch of Axia Hub’s coworking space, he hopes to spark a movement that transforms the city into one of Nigeria’s top tech hubs. “Jos has so much untapped potential. We’re sitting on a goldmine of talent, and if we give our young people the right tools and environment, there’s no limit to what they can achieve,” he stated confidently.
According to Ibe, mentorship is a vital part of this transformation. Axia Hub doesn’t just provide a physical workspace—it connects young tech entrepreneurs with seasoned professionals. “As a company, we actively work with mentors nationwide and beyond. These people have walked the tech journey and are passionate about giving back. They’ll be part of our ecosystem, offering guidance and helping to bridge the experience gap for young entrepreneurs.”
Insights from the Launch: Stakeholder Support
The recent launch of Axia Hub’s coworking space was a pivotal moment, not just for the tech community in Jos but for stakeholders across Plateau State. Attendees included key government officials, private sector players, and tech advocates, all of whom acknowledged the critical role Axia Hub plays in fostering the growth of the local tech scene.
Datong Gwamnan, Director General of the Plateau Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA), who attended the launch, emphasized the importance of such initiatives.
“This coworking space is a step in the right direction for Plateau State’s tech development. It symbolizes progress and our commitment to becoming a digital economy leader in Nigeria. We need more spaces like this to tap into truly the innovation already happening here,” Gwamnan said.
Similarly, Alex Ladan, former gubernatorial candidate and a leading advocate for tech on the Plateau, praised Axia Hub’s efforts and pointed to the broader socio-economic benefits of investing in tech infrastructure. “The future of Plateau lies in the hands of our youth. Tech is the way forward, and if we want to create sustainable development, we need to empower them with spaces like this, where ideas can thrive, businesses can grow, and solutions for our local challenges can be born.”
A delegate from Kaduna, Mr. Segun, spoke about the importance of regional collaboration. “What we see here in Jos should be a model for other northern cities. This infrastructure across the region is needed to create a connected, vibrant tech ecosystem. We’re excited to partner with Axia Hub to share best practices and build bridges between cities like Kaduna and Jos,” Segun remarked.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for Jos’ Tech Scene?
Looking ahead, Axia Hub has big plans for the future. Beyond providing a physical workspace, the hub aims to host regular tech events, hackathons, and skill-building workshops that cater to the evolving needs of the tech community in Jos. The goal is not to foster local innovation but to attract national and international tech stakeholders to Plateau State with the focus of engaging the African and global tech communities.
Ibe believes that the success of Jos’ tech ecosystem will depend on continuous investment in infrastructure, skills, and partnerships. “We’re just getting started,” he said. “This coworking space is the first step into our robust framework and branches, a larger mission to build a sustainable tech economy in Jos. In the coming months, we’ll roll out more programs focusing on digital literacy, innovation labs, and creating linkages with global tech players.”
Conclusion
Launching Axia Hub’s coworking space marks a new chapter in Jos’s tech journey. For young entrepreneurs, it’s not just a workspace—it’s an entry point into a broader community of innovators, problem-solvers, and dreamers who are redefining what’s possible in Nigeria’s tech industry.
As Jos begins to make its mark on the national tech scene, the hope is that more coworking spaces like Axia Hub will spring up across the region, creating a network of collaboration and growth that empowers the next generation of tech leaders. With Axia Hub leading the charge, the future of Jos as a thriving tech ecosystem looks brighter than ever.
