Meet Bosun Tijani, the Tech Powerhouse who Brought Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria

Bosun Tijani is a one-of-a-kind, enthusiastic entrepreneur who has dominated the Nigerian tech startup scene for the past 12 years.

He is the creator and CEO of Co-Creation Hub, Africa’s largest tech network, with a mission to create a safe hub that can promote pan-African innovation and accelerate social capital for a progressive society. 

As a result, in August 2016, he received and organised the first visit of Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria. 

In 2019, under Bosun’s direction, Co-creation Hub bought Kenya’s iHub. This merger made Bosun Tijani become one of the most powerful people in African tech.

He is now the CEO of both organisations, which includes a large membership base, business incubation programs, global alliances, and venture capital activities ranging from Nigeria to Kenya.

The Co-Creation Hub is a digital innovation centre that provides a haven for innovators and creatives working to solve Africa’s most critical societal issues. 

CcHUB, which is at the forefront of the fastest-moving technology sector trends, has remained committed to influencing Africa’s economy and future, and Bosun is passionately driving that agenda.

In 2021, New Africa Magazine selected Bosun as one of the continent’s 100 Most Influential People.

The early days

Bosun Tijani was born on 20 July 1977 in Ogun State, Nigeria. He has a diploma in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Jos. 

He attended Warwick Business School in England for his master’s degree in information systems and management.

Bosun also earned a Postgraduate degree in Innovation Systems at the University of Leicester. 

Career  

Bosun Tijani previously worked with the International Trade Centre, where he successfully led the development and deployment of a web-marketing and information services program in Ghana, Uganda and Kenya from March to September 2006, with outstanding results. 

The initiative began in Ethiopia and was later expanded to include South Africa and Tanzania. 

At Hewlett Packard, he successfully handled the deployment of the ODel learning centre at the Africa Virtual University in Kenya, as well as the HP, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and University of Ibadan telecentre in Nigeria. 

He also started and finished the HP Micro-enterprise Acceleration Program learning centre at the Lagos Business School in Nigeria and provided notable support for its rollout in Egypt and Morocco.

Later, he became the European Innovation Manager at Pera Innovation Network (PERA), where he oversaw the collaboration of innovation agencies across Europe. 

He has directed social technology projects such as Lagos Innovation Hotspots and i-HQ while at CcHUB. He has influenced the environment, fiscal transparency, e-commerce, healthcare, education, wellness, and transportation by driving the expansion of social innovation through technology. 

Bosun Tijani inspired Mark Zuckerberg to pay a visit to CcHUB during his first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa.

He is a fellow at the Center for Democracy and the Rule of Law at Stanford University. He is also a member of the Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship.

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