Rethinking ‘Best Practice’ For Innovation Hubs: Lessons from Global Models and Localised Adaptations in Nigerian Slum Settlements

Abstract

This paper interrogates the idea of “best practice” for innovation hubs through evidence from a slum settlement in Abuja, Nigeria. Drawing on a convergent mixed-methods design, it combines two focus group discussions with 16 residents and a household survey of 83 respondents to examine how global hub models are interpreted, adapted and contested in contexts of multidimensional poverty. The analysis focuses on perceptions of international best practices and localised adaptations, and how these shape current innovation hub usage. Qualitative findings show that residents are keenly aware of global examples from India, Kenya and South Africa, but insist that any hub in Tudunwada must be tailored to local livelihoods, infrastructure constraints and community priorities. Multiple regression results indicate that stronger endorsement of international best-practice models is associated with lower likelihood of current hub use, while perceived localised adaptations are not a significant predictor. The paper argues for rethinking best practice around context-responsive, poverty-oriented hub design