NITDA Rallies Stakeholders to Scale Startups, Boost Digital Economy
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, has emphasised the need to scale up support for startups and expand digital skills development to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
He spoke at the NITDA-States IT Stakeholders’ Engagement and Ecosystem Development programme held in Abuja, where discussions centred on strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Represented by Ajayi Babajide, Inuwa said Nigeria must deliberately invest in entrepreneurship and digital capacity building to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
According to him, innovation-driven enterprises, particularly startups, have become critical drivers of economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement worldwide.
READ ALSO: NITDA Partners NIPSS to Boost Digital Economy, Creative Sector
He noted that while Nigeria has recorded progress with the emergence of globally recognised startups, more structured support systems are required to sustain the momentum and scale local innovations.
The NITDA boss outlined the agency’s efforts to nurture startups through its specialised platforms, including the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, which provide incubation, acceleration, and training programmes.
He added that these initiatives were designed to help young innovators transform ideas into viable businesses capable of competing on the global stage.
Inuwa also stressed the importance of equipping Nigerians with relevant digital skills, pointing to the implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework as a key step towards building a future-ready workforce.
He disclosed that NITDA has established over 100 IT centres nationwide to support digital learning, noting, however, that expanding access would require sustained collaboration with stakeholders.
“We must continue to invest in people, infrastructure, and policies that support innovation. The digital economy offers vast opportunities, but they must be intentionally developed,” he said.
He further reiterated the role of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) in driving inclusive growth and strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Inuwa called on governments at all levels, the private sector, and development partners to deepen collaboration in order to create an enabling environment for innovation to thrive.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kogi State, Eric Monday, said the state was prioritising digital transformation as a tool for socio-economic development.
He explained that Kogi State was deploying technology to improve service delivery in healthcare and other critical sectors, while also investing in youth-focused digital skills programmes.
Monday revealed that a skills acquisition centre supported by development partners was nearing completion and would soon commence training in relevant digital competencies.
He added that the state was building partnerships beyond Nigeria, including collaborations with Chinese organisations, to strengthen its innovation capacity and attract investment.
Other stakeholders at the forum stressed the need for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, innovation hubs, and human capital development to fully harness the benefits of the digital economy.
The event, themed “Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries: Towards Digitalisation and Entrepreneurial Evolution,” brought together key players to chart pathways for advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
