In a bid to empower Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem by providing a platform for strategic collaboration and innovation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Monday inauguratedthe Startup Consultative Forum (SCF)
The SCF is part of efforts to ensure the inclusive implementation of the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA), signed into law in 2022.
Speaking at the virtual inauguration, NITDA Director-General Malam Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Mr. Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of the Regulation and Compliance Department, in his welcome address, reiterated government commitment in creating the right environment for startups to flourish
He said the initiative is a signal that Nigeria is done treating innovation as an afterthought.
According to him, “We are placing it where it belongs: at the center of national strategy.
The Nigeria Startup Act was never meant to be another law on paper.
“It is a new social compact — one where startups are no longer fringe players, but core architects of our economic future. And this forum? It is the engine. It will ensure that policy doesn’t just catch up to innovation — it evolves with it.”
He explained that over the past eight months, NITDA had conducted awareness campaigns nationwide to set the stage for the forum’s launch, adding that the agency remained committed to a governance model rooted in dialogue, data, and inclusion, not just after-the-fact consultation.
Highlighting the critical role of the digital economy, Inuwa noted that it had shifted from being a supporting function to a strategic driver of job creation, global competitiveness, and youth empowerment.
According to him, “The forum will play a critical role in identifying regulatory roadblocks, shaping better investment pathways, mapping infrastructure gaps, and pinpointing real opportunities for partnerships across sectors.
It will also serve as a radar to detect changes within the ecosystem and a compass to guide us through complexities with clarity and honesty.”
Reiterating NITDA’s readiness to foster the growth of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, he pledged that the agency would engage, listen, and deliver real-time responses.
Also speaking, Mr. Oladejo Olawumi, Director. Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions Department, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of the DG, NITDA
said the forum would act as a vital platform for collaboration, information exchange, policy dialogue, and strategic action among stakeholders.
“We remain committed to creating an environment where innovation can flourish,” he assured.
Olawunmi also urged participants to embrace the responsibility of turning ideas into tangible policies and impactful outcomes.
In her remarks, Ms Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), a subsidiary of NITDA, highlighted the vital role startups play as drivers of employment, innovation, and problem-solving in any economy.
She outlined the SCF’s focus areas, including funding and investment, policy regulation, innovation, and support for global competitiveness.
“The forum serves as a platform where these pillars can be strengthened, ensuring that the ecosystem functions cohesively,” she said.