Nigeria Startup Model Gains Continental Traction ..... As Angola Eyes NITDA Framework for Digital Economy Drive

"NITDA was established to drive structured and sustainable ICT development by acting as an “ecosystem orchestrator” that promotes collaboration, innovation, and growth across Nigeria’s digital economy." Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director, Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, NITDA.

..... Says "Ongoing reforms align with the Federal Government’s Eight-Point Agenda and are embedded in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which is anchored on eight pillars designed to accelerate digital economy growth."

Nigeria’s digital innovation blueprint has attracted fresh international attention as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) positions its startup ecosystem framework as a reference model for Angola’s emerging digital entrepreneurship agenda.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to building a coordinated and inclusive digital ecosystem in Nigeria during a recent working visit focused on the country’s startup ecosystem architecture.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said NITDA was established to drive structured and sustainable ICT development by acting as an “ecosystem orchestrator” that promotes collaboration, innovation, and growth across Nigeria’s digital economy.

He explained that ongoing reforms align with the Federal Government’s Eight-Point Agenda and are embedded in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which is anchored on eight pillars designed to accelerate digital economy growth.

A central focus of the roadmap, he said, is to position Nigeria as a technology-driven economy that fosters inclusive development through innovation. He added that the agency is prioritising digital literacy, with targets of 70 per cent by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework, and 95 per cent by 2030.

Other key priorities include ecosystem development, IT talent cultivation, expansion of digital infrastructure, policy implementation, and research-driven innovation aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

The visiting delegation from Angola’s INAPEM, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Bráulio Augusto, commended Nigeria’s progress in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act, describing it as a strong model for shaping Angola’s own startup legislation.

Augusto disclosed that Angola’s Startup Law has already secured initial parliamentary approval and is now transitioning into the implementation phase. He expressed particular interest in Nigeria’s practical experience in moving from policy adoption to execution.

Areas of focus for Angola include startup labelling, incentive management, ecosystem mapping, investor registration, and the operational framework of the Nigeria Startup Portal.

He further noted that Angola is developing the Startup Angola Programme under its Digital Entrepreneurship Support Programme, designed to build a structured ecosystem rather than fragmented interventions. The initiative will prioritise institutional strengthening, startup financing, support for business development providers, expansion of innovation hubs, and international accelerator partnerships.

According to him, Nigeria’s experience is especially relevant in addressing shared challenges such as informality, limited access to finance, youth unemployment, digital inclusion gaps, and restricted market access for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Augusto also sought deeper technical insights into Nigeria’s National Startup Council, including its governance structure, member selection process, and the operational design of the Nigeria Startup Portal.

The engagement underscores growing African collaboration in digital policy development and further reinforces Nigeria’s emerging role as a continental reference point in startup ecosystem governance and digital entrepreneurship frameworks.