Nigeria’s digital development efforts are gaining continental recognition as the country’s startup ecosystem framework is being positioned as a reference model for Angola’s emerging digital entrepreneurship strategy.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reaffirmed its commitment to building a coordinated and inclusive digital ecosystem during a recent high-level working visit focused on Nigeria’s startup framework.
Speaking on behalf of NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa, the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said the agency was established to drive sustainable information technology development through both regulatory oversight and strategic developmental initiatives.
He noted that NITDA continues to play a central role as an ecosystem orchestrator, fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth across Nigeria’s digital economy.
According to him, the agency’s current 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 anchored on eight strategic pillars aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation.
A major focus of the roadmap, he explained, is positioning Nigeria as a technology-driven nation that promotes inclusive economic growth through innovation. He highlighted digital literacy as one of the agency’s top priorities, with NITDA targeting 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 under the National Digital Literacy Framework and a longer-term goal of achieving 95 percent by 2030.
Other priority areas include ecosystem development, IT talent advancement, digital infrastructure expansion, effective policy implementation, and research-driven innovation.
The visiting delegation from Angola’s National Institute of Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, led by Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bráulio Augusto, commended Nigeria’s progress in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act and described the country as a valuable model for shaping Angola’s own startup legislation.
Augusto revealed that Angola’s Startup Law has secured initial parliamentary approval and is now moving into the implementation phase. He expressed keen interest in understanding how Nigeria transitioned from legislative adoption to practical execution, particularly in areas such as startup labelling, incentive administration, ecosystem mapping, investor registration, and management of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
He disclosed that Angola is currently developing the Startup Angola Programme under its Digital Entrepreneurship Support Programme, which aims to establish a structured and integrated startup ecosystem rather than fragmented interventions.
The initiative will focus on institutional strengthening, startup financing, business development support, expansion of innovation hubs, and partnerships with international accelerators.
Augusto noted that Nigeria’s experience offers practical insights as Angola seeks solutions to key challenges including informality, limited access to finance, youth unemployment, digital inclusion gaps, and restricted market access for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He also requested further technical insights into Nigeria’s National Startup Council, its membership selection process, and the governance structure of the Nigeria Startup Portal.
The visit underscores growing collaboration among African nations in digital policy development and reinforces Nigeria’s position as a leading reference point for startup ecosystem development across the continent.
