The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a coordinated and inclusive digital ecosystem, positioning Nigeria’s startup framework as a reference point for digital entrepreneurship development across Africa.
This was disclosed during a working visit by a delegation from Angola’s National Institute of Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM), where the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, was represented by the Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo.
Speaking during the engagement, Inuwa said NITDA was established to drive coordinated and sustainable information technology development in Nigeria through its regulatory and developmental mandates, while serving as an ecosystem orchestrator that promotes collaboration, innovation, and growth within the digital economy.
He noted that the agency’s reforms align with the Federal Government’s Eight-Point Agenda and are reflected in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which is built around eight strategic pillars aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy.
According to him, one of the major objectives of the roadmap is to position Nigeria as a technologically driven nation that promotes inclusive economic growth through innovation. He added that digital literacy remained a top priority, with NITDA targeting 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework, and a long-term goal of 95 percent by 2030.
The NITDA DG further identified ecosystem development, IT talent advancement, digital infrastructure expansion, policy implementation, and research-driven innovation as other strategic focus areas.
Leader of the Angolan delegation and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of INAPEM, Bráulio Augusto, commended Nigeria’s progress in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act, describing the country as a valuable model for Angola’s emerging startup ecosystem framework.
Augusto revealed that Angola’s Startup Law had secured initial parliamentary approval and was entering the implementation phase. He said the delegation sought to understand how Nigeria successfully transitioned from policy adoption to practical execution, especially in areas such as startup labelling, incentive management, ecosystem mapping, investor registration, and the operation of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
According to him, Angola is currently developing the Startup Angola Programme under its Digital Entrepreneurship Support Programme to create a structured and integrated startup ecosystem rather than fragmented interventions.
He explained that the initiative would focus on institutional strengthening, startup funding, support for business development service providers, expansion of innovation hubs, and partnerships with international accelerators.
Augusto added that Nigeria’s experience would help Angola address challenges including informality, limited access to finance, youth unemployment, digital inclusion gaps, and restricted market access for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He also requested additional technical insights into the operations of Nigeria’s National Startup Council, including its membership selection process and the governance structure of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
The visit underscored growing collaboration among African nations in digital policy development and further reinforces Nigeria’s position as a leading reference point for startup ecosystem development on the continent.
