The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially launched the Startup Consultative Forum to bring the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) to life and make innovation feel less like a buzzword and more like a strategy.
This isn’t just another forum. It’s a game plan.
Speaking at the event, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance (on behalf of DG Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE), set the tone:
“It is a commitment to building a stronger tech ecosystem through collaboration, inclusion, and data-driven governance, marking a new phase in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.”
He made it clear that this Act isn’t just paperwork.
“Startups are not fringe players. They are central to Nigeria’s economic future.”
*What’s Been Happening Behind the Scenes?*
Over the past eight months, NITDA has been on the move, hosting stakeholder workshops across 10 states, showing up at key tech events like Lagos Tech Week, Omniverse Summit, Moonlight Conference, and Akwa Ibom Tech Week, and spreading awareness through digital and direct outreach.
These efforts are shaping a startup-friendly environment, one where innovation isn’t stifled by red tape but amplified by policy.
*What’s the Forum Really About?*
Think of the Startup Consultative Forum as a sounding board and action hub. According to Inuwa, it will:
* Highlight regulatory gaps
* Offer real-time feedback for better policies
* Help create a truly enabling startup environment
And under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with backing from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA isn’t slowing down.
Ongoing initiatives like the Startup Portal, tech infrastructure deployment, and nationwide digital skills training are part of the mission to build a future-ready economy.
“Inclusion is not charity. It is a strategy,” Inuwa emphasised, calling for diverse representation in gender, region, and sector.
*A Rallying Cry for Real Impact*
While inaugurating the Forum on behalf of the DG, Oladejo Olawunmi, Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, lit a fire under attendees:
“We remain deeply committed to nurturing a space where innovation can flourish… shaping ideas into concrete policy and outcomes that leave a lasting impact.”
In her opening remarks, Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator at ONDI, framed the forum perfectly; “A structured dialogue between those building the future and those enabling it.”
She mapped out five key pillars for success:
* Access to funding
* Capacity building
* Supportive policies
* Inclusive innovation
* Global competitiveness
Then came a challenge to all stakeholders; “This Forum must be a problem-solving platform, not another talk shop.”
With the Startup Consultative Forum now active, NITDA is transforming policy into real-world action.
Startups are no longer sitting at the kids’ table, they’re now front and center in Nigeria’s innovation story.
The virtual launch drew a wide range of attendees: private sector leaders, ESOs, development agencies, investors, and labelled startups from across Nigeria, all ready to build something bigger, together.
