The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology firm, and Alami, a private company dedicated to empowering young entrepreneurs and SMEs in the tech and creative industries. This alliance seeks to advance digital transformation and bolster Nigeria’s economy by equipping businesses with essential digital tools.
This collaboration aligns with NITDA’s commitment to executing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are well-positioned to succeed in the digital space. The agreement follows a pivotal meeting between NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, Flutterwave’s CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, and Alami’s CEO, Ms. Olu White, with discussions centered on fostering FinTech innovation, enhancing digital literacy, developing infrastructure, and promoting open-source technology.
The partnership aims to close the digital gap by promoting digital literacy, encouraging fintech innovation, and creating an environment conducive to businesses leveraging secure and efficient financial solutions. Speaking on the collaboration, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, underscored the value of public-private partnerships in driving Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.
“Flutterwave’s cutting-edge fintech solutions align with our vision for a dynamic digital economy. The slow adoption of digital tools among SMEs has hindered economic progress, and through this partnership, we aim to provide businesses with the resources and infrastructure needed to transition into the digital era,” he stated.
Inuwa also stressed the significance of NITDA’s engagement with leading private sector stakeholders like Flutterwave to expedite digital transformation. “This initiative is a critical step towards our collective goals for digital advancement, reinforcing our commitment to Nigeria’s progress in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he added.
Flutterwave’s Founder and CEO, Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola, expressed optimism about the partnership’s capacity to uplift SMEs. “Many small businesses in Nigeria struggle to adopt digital solutions, and we believe that by offering seamless and secure payment technologies, we can help them grow with confidence. Our collaboration with NITDA reaffirms our dedication to fostering an inclusive digital economy,” he said.
The collaboration will emphasize:
- Strengthening public-private partnerships through digital payment infrastructure and technology financing.
- Hosting Digital Nigeria Week 2025, featuring payment innovation showcases, workshops, panel discussions, and strategic collaborations to empower SMEs and startups.
- Supporting NITDA’s strategic initiatives, including NDEPS, the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), innovation and entrepreneurship programs, digital literacy and skill-building efforts, and cybersecurity enhancements.
This partnership marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital evolution. By equipping Nigerian businesses with the necessary tools to embrace digital solutions, this initiative aims to drive economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and ensure broad access to the benefits of a digital economy.
With NITDA, Flutterwave, and Alami working together, Nigeria is poised to build an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for all its citizens.
