What do you think of first when you hear the city of Aba? ……
Shoes, Fabrics, Nigerian-made products, bespoke tailoring, and more shoes. Aba is, without doubt, the most popular city in Abia State, making a name for itself as a local manufacturing hub.
The brand “ Aba made “ is a household name for Nigerian products manufactured in Aba by locals, and is famously affordable and more durable than synthetic products mass-manufactured in China.
This has always been Aba’s brand identity for a long while, but not anymore. At the turn of the new age, new sectors are springing up in the commercial southeastern city.
Technology is one of such sectors and appears to be the elephant in the room amongst the youthful population of the state.
The tech movement is powered by indigenous tech hubs serving as a learning field and an ecosystem for tech incubation at the same time.
The foremost tech hub by population size, reach, and Course of study is known as Rad 5 Tech Hub, founded by Igwe Uguru, an Aba-based tech enthusiast and community Leader.
RAD 5 Tech Hub, a Sanctuary for Builders
INFOEAST caught up with Uguru, who just returned from the United States on an invitation to get the basics of Rad 5, what they stand for, their unique offer to clients, and the big why behind their mission.
“ We imagine a future where technology helps people discover their creative potential and opens doors for them to do amazing things. Technology can inspire new ideas, solve problems, and create chances for people to achieve their goals.” Rad 5’s vision statement read in parts.
“We empower creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. This means we support people who want to create solutions (creators), those who aim to bring new ideas to life (innovators), and those who build and grow businesses (entrepreneurs). Our goal is to equip them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed,” the statement added.
Rad 5, besides serving as an ecosystem for builders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in Abia state, also doubles as a learning hub for kids, teenagers, and youths.
“ I started with an academy where we train and groom young tech talents. From this pool of innovators, we launched a startup studio to build multiple tech startups all from one place.” Igwe Uguru, Co-Founder of Rad 5, shared on LinkedIn.
“ Over the years, we’ve trained thousands through the academy. Some go on to pursue tech careers, others launch their own companies, and a few join our studio to create and grow new ventures with us”. He added.
The Abia state government recognizes Rad 5 and its founder, Igwe Uguru, was invited a few months ago by the Honourable Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Abia State, through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, to the Abia Startup Act Stakeholders Engagement Meeting.
2025 Accomplishments and the Journey so far
Rad 5 has accomplished a lot in 2025 so far, ranging from national and international recognitions to significant partnerships, and maximising its training wing to churn out fresh graduates ready to add value to Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
Some of the standout milestones achieved by Rad 5 in the first three quarters of 2025 include.
- Federal Government’s 3MTT Program
RAD5 Tech Hub proudly served as a strategic learning partner of the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, championed by NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy.
Through this partnership, the tech hub trained over 200 young talents in Abia State in globally relevant technology skills.
- Tech Apprenticeship & Entrepreneurship Program
In early 2025, RAD5 launched our tech apprenticeship and entrepreneurship program, transitioning RAD5 Academy graduates into real-world projects. This initiative ensures talents gain practical, work-based experience with organizations and institutions while sharpening their entrepreneurial edge.
RAD5 Tech Hub partnered with NITDA and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) on the iHatch Incubation Program, supporting early-stage founders with resources, mentorship, and access to networks.
- International Recognition
Our co-founder, Igwe Uguru, was selected as one of the Young African Leaders to the United States by the U.S. Government, for the Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Leadership in Business & Entrepreneurship Track.
Bucket Lists and Future Prospects
Aside from having an eventful 2025, RAD 5 has its gaze set on some prospects and milestones for the coming years. It looks to expand its capacity to empower talents and grow its community.
RAD5 Academy is set to host a Career EnRICH Digital Skills Bootcamp (CERDS) in October to train 200 fresh school leavers, aspiring designers, developers, digital professionals, and career changers across diverse industries.
The second item on the bucket list involves expanding our venture creation capacity. Leveraging its venture studio to build startups across EdTech, FinTech, and AI-powered solutions while applying a structured methodology and resources.
The goal here is to support at least five new ventures annually, providing each with operational support, market validation, and growth strategies.
Finally, Rad 5 hopes to strengthen its existing partnerships while looking out for new ones.
The tech hub hopes to deepen collaborations with AfriLabs, GIZ, government agencies, universities, and private sector partners to build a stronger support system for innovation across Abia State and beyond.
The growing tech culture and ecosystem in the Southeast is powered by hubs like Rad 5 in Aba, ROAR in Nsukka, Genesys in Enugu, and DevAmplify in Awka, fostering a blossoming ecosystem and onboarding promising talent to the tech space.
A robust partnership with the government could prove the perfect formula in achieving a regional tech revolution, creating jobs and solving pressing problems, leveraging technology.
