The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to driving a coordinated and inclusive digital economy, further strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leading innovation hub and reference point for startup ecosystem development in Africa.
This was highlighted during a strategic working visit focused on Nigeria’s startup ecosystem framework, where the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, was represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo.
Speaking during the engagement, the DG noted that NITDA was established to drive coordinated and sustainable information technology development across Nigeria through both its regulatory and developmental mandates. He explained that the agency continues to serve as an ecosystem orchestrator, promoting collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth within the digital economy.
According to him, these efforts align with the Federal Government’s Eight-Point Agenda and are embedded in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which is structured around eight strategic pillars aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic growth.
He further explained that one of the major goals of the roadmap is to position Nigeria as a technology-driven nation that promotes inclusive economic development through innovation. Digital literacy, he said, remains a top priority, with NITDA targeting 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework, while projecting a long-term goal of 95 percent by 2030.
Other critical focus areas include ecosystem development, digital talent advancement, expansion of digital infrastructure, policy implementation, and research-driven innovation.
The visiting delegation from Angola’s National Institute of Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM), led by its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Bráulio Augusto, commended Nigeria’s remarkable progress in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act, describing the country as a strategic model for Angola’s emerging startup ecosystem and digital entrepreneurship framework.
Augusto revealed that Angola’s Startup Law has already received initial parliamentary approval and is currently transitioning into the implementation phase. He noted that the delegation’s visit was aimed at understanding how Nigeria successfully moved from legislative adoption to practical execution, particularly in areas such as startup labelling, incentive administration, ecosystem mapping, investor registration, and the operations of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
He disclosed that Angola is presently developing the Startup Angola Programme under its broader Digital Entrepreneurship Support Programme, an initiative designed to build a structured, integrated, and sustainable startup ecosystem rather than isolated intervention programmes.
According to him, the programme will focus on institutional strengthening, startup financing, support for business development service providers, expansion of innovation hubs, and partnerships with international accelerators.
He added that Nigeria’s experience is especially valuable as Angola seeks practical solutions to challenges such as informality in business operations, limited access to funding, youth unemployment, digital inclusion gaps, and restricted market access for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The INAPEM delegation also requested further technical insights into the operations of Nigeria’s National Startup Council, including its governance structure, membership selection process, and the administrative framework guiding the Nigeria Startup Portal.
The visit further underscores the growing collaboration among African nations in digital policy development and reinforces Nigeria’s rising influence as a continental leader in shaping startup ecosystem frameworks, innovation policies, and digital entrepreneurship development.
