NITDA Launches Startup Consultative Forum By Fatimah Yusuf Usman
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially launched the Startup Consultative Forum (SCF) 2025, a major step aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s startup and innovation ecosystem.
The event held yesterday gathered Labeled Startups, Verified Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs), Angel Investors, and Venture Capitalists for a day of strategic dialogue moderated by Nneka Okachukwu.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Mr. Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Regulations and Compliance, stressed the agency’s commitment to designing policies based on the realities and needs of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
He noted that NITDA remains focused on building a digital economy where startups can thrive.
Speaking further, Mr. Oladejo Olawumi, who officially represented the Director General, described the Nigeria Startup Act as a transformative instrument for advancing innovation and entrepreneurship.
He announced the formal inauguration of the Startup Investment Fund, urging all stakeholders to seize the opportunities it presents.
“Let us translate our ideas into tangible policies and impactful outcomes that will redefine Nigeria’s digital future,” Olawumi charged participants.
A major highlight of the event was the formal establishment of the Startup Consultative Forum structure under the supervision of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The SCF is expected to deliberate, gather, and recommend vital information to shape incentives and policies targeted at supporting startups and strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
The Forum will also serve as a central platform for coordinating the voices of innovators and entrepreneurs nationwide, ensuring effective representation within policymaking processes.
Additionally, it will act as an advisory body to the National Council, providing inputs on regulatory and fiscal reforms tailored to the needs of Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
Interactive sessions during the event allowed startups to raise critical questions, with responses provided by key stakeholders.
Discussions touched on pressing challenges and emerging opportunities within the startup space, fostering deeper collaboration among ecosystem players.
The event ended with a call on startups to actively participate in selecting their representatives on the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship — a crucial move to ensure that the interests of the startup community are effectively championed at the highest level of digital policymaking.
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