Nigeria has taken a significant stride in bolstering its innovation ecosystem with the official inauguration of the Startup Consultative Forum. This strategic initiative is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) and further strengthen the nation’s burgeoning tech startup landscape.
Addressing the forum, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), represented by Barrister Emmanuel Edet, the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, emphasized the platform’s significance beyond a mere stakeholder meeting. “This forum signifies our unwavering commitment to building a more robust tech ecosystem through genuine collaboration, broad inclusion, and data-driven governance, marking an exciting new chapter in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act,” he stated.
Inuwa underscored the transformative potential of the Nigeria Startup Act, positioning it as more than just legislation but as a fundamental framework for national development. “Startups are not peripheral players; they are central to Nigeria’s economic future,” he asserted, highlighting their critical role in the nation’s progress.
He further detailed NITDA’s proactive efforts over the past eight months in driving key activities under the Act. These initiatives include impactful stakeholder workshops held across 10 states, strategic roadshows at prominent tech events such as Lagos Tech Week, the Omniverse Summit, Moonlight Conference, and Akwa Ibom Tech Week, as well as comprehensive awareness campaigns conducted through both digital platforms and direct engagement.
According to Inuwa, the newly launched forum will function as a vital feedback mechanism, effectively identifying regulatory gaps, informing necessary policy improvements, and ultimately shaping a more conducive environment for startups to thrive.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the strategic guidance of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA continues its dedicated support for startups through various crucial initiatives. These include the comprehensive Startup Portal, the strategic deployment of essential tech infrastructure, and nationwide digital skills training programs aimed at empowering the next generation of innovators.
The Director General stressed that for startups to truly flourish, policies must be inherently inclusive and dynamically responsive to their needs. “Inclusion is not an act of charity; it is a fundamental growth strategy,” he asserted, advocating for equitable representation across gender, region, and sector within the ecosystem.
Inaugurating the members of the Consultative Forum on behalf of the Director-General, the Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, Oladejo Olawunmi, ignited the forum with a compelling call to action, envisioning it as a critical nexus for collaborative breakthroughs. He inspired the members, stating, “Our deep commitment remains in nurturing a vibrant space where innovation can truly flourish, and I urge each of us to embrace the significant task ahead by collaboratively shaping innovative ideas into concrete policies and impactful outcomes that will leave a lasting legacy.”
Earlier, Victoria Fabunmi, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), in her opening address, aptly described the Forum as a “structured dialogue between those actively building the future and those whose role it is to enable that future.” She outlined five key pillars crucial for success: improved access to funding, comprehensive capacity building initiatives, the establishment of supportive policy frameworks, the promotion of inclusive innovation, and the enhancement of global competitiveness for Nigerian startups.
She passionately urged startups to articulate their needs boldly, private sector players to offer more than just financial capital, development partners to scale proven successful initiatives, and the government to harmonize its efforts effectively. “This Forum must serve as a dynamic problem-solving platform, and not merely another forum for discussion,” she concluded, emphasizing the need for tangible action.
With the official launch of the Startup Consultative Forum, NITDA is poised to translate policy into tangible action, ensuring that startups are no longer operating on the periphery but are positioned at the very heart of Nigeria’s dynamic innovation journey. The virtual event witnessed strong participation from key stakeholders, including private sector players, various development agencies, verified Ecosystem Support Organisations (ESOs), angel investors, venture capital firms, and actively labelled startups from across the nation, signaling a unified commitment to the Act’s success.