The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building a coordinated and inclusive digital ecosystem, positioning the country’s startup framework as a reference point for digital entrepreneurship development across Africa.
Speaking during a working visit by officials from Angola’s National Institute of Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (INAPEM), the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said the agency was established to drive coordinated and sustainable information technology development in Nigeria.
According to him, NITDA combined its regulatory and developmental mandates to serve as an ecosystem orchestrator that promotes collaboration, innovation, and growth within the digital economy.
He explained that the agency’s reforms are aligned 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.
Inuwa noted that one of the key priorities of the roadmap is digital literacy, revealing that NITDA is targeting 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework, with a long-term goal of achieving 95 percent by 2030.
He added that other critical focus areas include ecosystem development, IT talent advancement, digital infrastructure expansion, policy implementation, and research-driven innovation.
The visiting Angolan delegation, led by INAPEM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bráulio Augusto, commended Nigeria’s implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act, describing the country as a strong model for Angola’s emerging startup ecosystem framework.
Augusto disclosed that Angola’s Startup Law has already secured initial parliamentary approval and is entering the implementation phase. He said the delegation visited Nigeria to understudy how the country successfully transitioned from legal adoption to practical implementation.
According to him, Angola is particularly interested in understanding Nigeria’s approach to startup labelling, incentive management, ecosystem mapping, investor registration, and the operations of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
He further revealed that Angola is currently developing the Startup Angola Programme under its Digital Entrepreneurship Support Programme, designed to create a structured and integrated startup ecosystem rather than isolated interventions.
The programme, he said, will focus on institutional strengthening, startup financing, support for business development service providers, expansion of innovation hubs, and partnerships with international accelerators.
Augusto added that Nigeria’s experience remains highly relevant as Angola seeks solutions to challenges such as informality, limited access to finance, youth unemployment, digital inclusion gaps, and restricted market access for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The INAPEM chief also sought additional technical insights into the operations of Nigeria’s National Startup Council, including its governance structure and member selection process.
The visit underscored growing collaboration among African nations in digital policy development and further reinforces Nigeria’s role as a leading reference point for startup ecosystem development on the continent.
