The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is intensifying its efforts to cultivate global partnerships and has announced a collaboration with SGgrow, a firm dedicated to identifying and supporting promising Nigerian startups and connecting them with global ecosystems.
The partnership aims to accelerate inclusive growth, drive innovation, and attract investment into Nigeria’s burgeoning digital economy. The deal was highlighted during a recent meeting at the NITDA Headquarters with Mr. Hiro Mashita, the founder of SGgrow.
NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, who joined the engagement virtually, emphasized the agency’s proactive approach to international collaboration, particularly its strong existing relationship with the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Inuwa pointed to the successful iHatch initiative—a co-designed idea incubation program—as proof of impact:
- The pilot program created over 117 direct jobs and more than 370 indirect jobs.
- NITDA and JICA are now working to expand the initiative to all 36 states and the FCT, providing Nigerian startups with six months of incubation leveraging JICA’s expertise.
The DG affirmed that SGgrow’s objectives perfectly align with NITDA’s mandate to digitally empower Nigeria through inclusive technology and innovation. He expressed keen interest in exploring a collaborative framework that could integrate SGgrow with the existing JICA partnership, stating, “For me, it is more about cooperation than competition.”
NITDA is actively building a repository of labeled and compliant startups to enhance transparency and facilitate potential government incentives, including matching funding through collaborations. The agency is also developing an investment framework, including efforts with Google to build vital digital sovereign infrastructure.
In his statement, Mr. Mashita of SGgrow articulated his company’s mission to serve as a key liaison between Nigeria and Japan, providing Nigerian startups with long-term investment, growth opportunities, and exposure.
He proposed joint projects, enhanced support for local startups, and examining the possibilities for stock exchange effects within the Nigerian startup ecosystem, underscoring his belief in Nigeria’s potential as an economic giant.
This strategic engagement underscores NITDA’s commitment to injecting expertise, investment, and global opportunities into Nigeria’s digital economy.