The Innovation Support Network (ISN) has entered a new leadership phase as Hanson Johnson assumes the role of Board Chairman with a pledge to significantly deepen investment and coordination across Nigeria’s fast-growing startup ecosystem.
Johnson — a recognised leader in the technology community and founder of Start Innovation Hub — outlined a strategic direction focused on creating clear and efficient pathways that link startups to financing, markets, and transformative partnerships. He noted that ISN’s extensive national footprint provides a unique platform for identifying founders who are prepared for scale and international competitiveness.
A central part of his agenda is strengthening collaboration within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem. Johnson stated that ISN will amplify its unified voice in policy discussions, stressing that supportive regulation is essential for enabling innovation to meaningfully address national challenges.
Shortly after assuming office, he issued an open invitation to a broad coalition of stakeholders. He called on development organisations to partner with ISN on capacity-building initiatives across Nigeria’s regions, and encouraged government institutions to work closely with the network on policies that accelerate startup growth and unlock innovation-led economic solutions.
He also urged private investors, venture capital firms, and corporate organisations to leverage ISN’s network of investment-ready entrepreneurs and creative hubs to advance their own digital transformation and growth ambitions.
Johnson reaffirmed that building a competitive innovation economy requires joint commitment from all actors and expressed readiness to engage immediately with partners who share ISN’s mission of driving large-scale impact.
His appointment has been widely welcomed across the tech sector, with many describing it as a pivotal step toward strengthening coordination and elevating standards within the country’s innovation landscape. Johnson thanked members of the ISN community for their confidence, describing the role as both a privilege and a responsibility to accelerate progress.
ISN now represents more than 230 hubs across 32 states, making it one of the most influential networks shaping Nigeria’s technology-driven development. Under Johnson’s leadership, the organisation plans to raise the operational benchmark for innovation hubs nationwide, ensuring stronger systems, more effective programs, and greater support structures for startups poised for growth.
