From left-right: Em Ekong, West Africa regional head, ANDE; Danyaro Yakasai, special adviser to Kano state governor; Charles Emembolu, chairman, ISN Hubs; Victoria Fabunmi, national coordinator, ONDI; Olawumi Oladejo, director, IT infrastructure solutions, NITDA; Thuweba Diwani, head of project, GIZ/DTC Nigeria; Obi Asika, DG, NCAC; Oga Nnaife, executive director, ISN Hubs; Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, principal secretary to Abia state governor, and David Kalu, commissioner for science, technology and innovation, Abia state
Technology experts say the newly proposed $100 million Nigeria Innovation Fund will sustain and scale digital innovation in the country.
Launched on Friday, the private sector-led Nigeria Innovation Fund aims to support startups and strengthen tech hubs nationwide.
During the 6th Policy Dialogue on Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem in Akwa-Ibom state, industry leaders, government officials, and the private sector were among the critical stakeholders who emphasised the need to shape the future of Nigeria’s digital economy through targeted policies and cooperative action.
Hosted by the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria alongside the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Innovation Support Network (ISN) Hubs, the event was themed, “Catalysts for Change, Building a Vibrant Digital Economy”.
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It drew on insights from an extensive survey that revealed top priorities for Nigeria’s digital growth.
The five key focus areas included digital literacy and skills development, support for the startup ecosystem, access to finance, funding for innovation and research, and strengthening digital infrastructure.
These priorities laid the foundation for a series of group discussions aimed at creating actionable strategies to navigate current challenges.
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Oladejo Olawumi from NITDA, Danyaro Yakasai, special adviser to the Kano governor, and Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot of the Akwa Ibom State house of assembly were among the influential voices contributing to the discussion.
Their expertise and support highlighted the critical role of coordinated policy efforts in building a resilient digital future for Nigeria.
Other participants, including government, private industry, and civil society, had breakout sessions to discuss and propose practical strategies for these key areas.
A highlight of the dialogue was a focused discussion on establishing a Nigerian Innovation Fund (NIF), a proposed fund to sustain and scale digital innovation across Nigeria.
Attendees shared insights on structuring the fund to maximise its impact and ensure equitable support for tech initiatives nationwide.
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In addition, a comprehensive policy brief will be developed from the event’s recommendations. This brief aims to bridge the gap between policymakers and digital stakeholders, providing a roadmap for policies that are responsive to the evolving needs of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
The Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria is co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) andimplemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
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