Top Five (5) Tech Innovation Hubs and Co-working Spaces in Kaduna

Kaduna state in Northern Nigeria famed for coming tops on Ease of Doing Business is rapidly adopting technology in almost all its endeavours. This naturally translates to an increase in digital activities around the state. In the last few years, we have seen tech innovation hubs emerge but the most prominent ones to engage if you were a stranger looking for a really great hub are as given below;

GreyHobb, a Modern Co-working Space

These were the words of the CEO of Greysoft Technologies/GreyHobb, Isah Raphael when we asked him about what inspired the level of excellence at GreyHobb. Right at the top of the company’s list of values is “people”. The hub profoundly ensures that people feel welcome and comfortable when they enter into its premises. The environment in itself is serene, neat and friendly. It is built in a way that it captures basic needs. From the outdoor working spaces, access to constant electricity and internet supply, a cafeteria with two gazebos for eat-outs, trees and flora that more than present an exquisite scenery, provide a maximally aerated environment. Your experience can be nothing short of remarkable! www.greysoft.ngTraining programs are diverse and unique; from basic digital literacy programs to emerging technologies. GreyHobb is also a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC) licensed to train and administer exams on IC3 program packages.

The internal offices are well built and cozy such that it fosters work and relaxation. The inscriptions on the walls inspire possibilities and the space managers are happy to listen and reason with visitors always.

The creative space is called GreyCreate. Its partnership with Rabitz Studios (www.rabitzstudios.com) has seen it churn out tons of creative content from events, films, music and cultural contents.

What stands out in GreyHobb is the way the community is built. People are happy to share ideas with one another. A co-worker is eager to help the next in need and that is not a very common feat in most co-working spaces. Surely, a great deal of work must have gone into building such a community.

GreyHobb, Kaduna – Beyond Co-working

GreyHobb, Kaduna – Beyond Co-working

At its core, GreyHobb (by Greysoft Technologies – www.greysoft.ng) seeks to create strong communities and foster synergies, adding greater value to everyone who participates in the ecosystem. The dynamic energy of this space helps people feel that they are part of something larger than themselves and that others care about their success and want to help propel their ideas forward.

Greysoft Technologies Nigeria – http://www.greysoft.ng is at the heart of tremendously alleviating poverty through a strong campaign and implementation of digital literacy. The Greysoft Innovation Hub popularly known as GreyHobb, situated in Kaduna state of Northern Nigeria has a simple mandate – “Help people leverage technology for improved livelihood“.

Greysoft’s CEO, Isah Raphael in an interview stated that “with the right level of digital literacy, poverty can be rapidly alleviated if not eradicated”. According to GSMA, the number of smartphone users in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to reach half a billion in 2021, up from a subscriber base of 477million in 2019. The African population is largely youthful and to keep these youth idle is to make them available for employment as instruments that foster activities which pose threat to local communities, like thuggery, insurgency and banditry. Most of these youngsters own a smartphone. These phones can access the internet and browse opportunities on freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, etc.

GreyHobb is training young people on how to live online by first acquiring basic competences on digital literacy (IC3 standard), as well as developing freelance solutions that match menial job givers with job seekers. After training, trainees are linked to online freelance platforms and provided with access to mentorship. Some of the trained youth who emerge above expectation may be hired to also become mentors to others. This is a process that will be iterative until the result is in sight.

Working in the 21st Century with GreyHobb (Greysoft Technologies – www.greysoft.ng)

Working in the 21st Century with GreyHobb (Greysoft Technologies – www.greysoft.ng)

The Covid-19 pandemic came with a truckload of revelations. It is clearly possible for people to work from outside traditional office spaces and still achieve results. Also, since working from home comes with its own share of distractions such as the assurance of electricity supply in this part of the world, internet integrity, the absence of a semi-work environment where one could call out Amina from the next workstation and ask her opinion on a professional matter, children interruption during work hours etc., Greysoft Technologies – www.greysoft.ng decided to design a beautiful and serene co-working space (The GreyHobb) to take away all your headaches and the best part here for startups looking to spend a fortune on setting up their own office space is that they can just save that money and come to GreyHobb for as low as 15k monthly subscription.

Co-working spaces can lower a company’s real estate costs and provide greater flexibility in procuring and managing space. As a business strategy, co-working can be more cost-efficient than creating dedicated office space in certain markets with a large percentage of highly mobile employees. For businesses seeking to quickly enter new geographic markets, co-working also provides a more efficient alternative to planning, designing, constructing and relocating to a new permanent office space.

GreyHobb provides its visitors with an inspiring work and relaxation environment. On entry, you’ll spot an outdoor work area, heavily supplied with unwavering electricity and internet supply. You will also notice the abundance of breeze, clean oxygen air, blowing in from all corners. This is because of the lavishness of trees in the premises. As you approach the hub, you’ll notice to your left, the cafeteria with two external gazebos where co-workers can sit and eat as well as work. Behind is an external urinary where gents can go to do their thing. Inside the structures are well ventilated rooms, artistic sceneries with inspiring quotes and texts. The highpoint of it all is the culture that is practiced by the people in this environment, both staff and co-workers. A sharing ecosystem with everyone eager to learn and contribute to the growth of the other.

At GreyHobb, we can say we agree with the Nigerian artist Davido when he said; “We Rise by Lifting Others”.

Why Coworking is best for Startups – The GreyHobb experience

Why Coworking is best for Startups – The GreyHobb experience

Co-working spaces are flexible and shared work environments that make significant effort to connect users with supportive networks that commonly result in efficient work outputs, high level of collaboration and knowledge transfer.

Startups are usually small by nature and definition in the sense that the founders do not have big money in most cases. They also lack well-rounded experience in their field and the complete man-power they need; talk more of having the wherewithal to rent a fully furnished office space, powered with uninterrupted 24hr electricity and internet supply to run a successful venture. That’s why Apple, Facebook and the likes started from the garage.

GreyHobb, a co-working and creation innovation hub in Kaduna, Nigeria, founded by Greysoft Technologies Limited – http://www.greysoft.ng, sets off in a mission to help people leverage technology for improved livelihood, with a vision to achieve optimal access to digital opportunities. At GreyHobb, every startup is already incubated on sign up. This is evident in the structure of the community of co-workers, as each is carefully admitted in line with Greysoft’s values and vision. Joining an umbrella of innovative minds on a journey to solve problems digitally means that you are in the right space, if that’s your angle.

What’s important is that you immediately have access to a pool of mentors who are already walking the path you are dreaming of. You also have access to manpower, such as; digital marketers, product designers, developers etc. and some of these come in for free if you have good social skills. Naturally, you would have to hire these services and pay through your nose, but hey! The lady behind you is a good content writer and she could help you with a killer article if you ask nicely or at least show you how.

GreyHobb is well designed with external features such as gazebos for folks who like natural air and open spaces. The cafeteria is also built as gazebos so you can enjoy an all-round work experience whether you were indoors or outdoors. There’s also an external urinary and a wonderful ecologically friendly environment littered with trees everywhere, making the air clean and healthy to breathe.

There is also a crypto trading community at GreyHobb that trades for members just to ensure that members get richer – can you beat that?!As far as co-working spaces are concerned in Kaduna and I daresay Nigeria is concerned, GreyHobb is one of a kind.SHARETWEETPINSHARE

Top Ten (10) Tech Innovation Hubs and Co-working Spaces in Nigeria

Top Ten (10) Tech Innovation Hubs and Co-working Spaces in Nigeria.