By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed that a strong and reliable digital infrastructure is fundamental to attracting investment, boosting competitiveness, and achieving sustainable growth within Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
This is contained in a press statement accessed Friday by our reporter, e-issued by the Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar.
As per the statement, this position was underscored at the Africa Fintech Foundry Ecosystem Roundtable 7.0, a virtual engagement themed “The Capital Reset: What Technologies Are Still Fundable in Africa?” held last weekend.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Special Assistant on Digital Transformation to the NITDA DG, Muhammad Aminu, emphasised that investors were increasingly drawn to startups operating in environments supported by dependable digital infrastructure and clear, predictable policy frameworks.
Mr. Aminu explained that digital infrastructure went far beyond basic internet access. According to him, it encompassed cloud computing systems, digital identity frameworks, payment infrastructure, data exchange platforms, interoperability standards, cybersecurity architecture, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
He noted that, “These foundational systems significantly lower operational barriers for startups, enabling founders to focus on innovation, customer acquisition, and scaling, rather than having to build essential infrastructure independently.”
From an investment standpoint, Aminu observed that robust digital infrastructure reduced uncertainty, lowers operational risk, enhances scalability, and considerably cuts the cost of expansion, thereby making startups more attractive to both local and international investors.
He further highlighted several ongoing government initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. These included sovereign cloud projects, data interoperability frameworks, cloud adoption policies, cybersecurity and data governance reforms, as well as the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.
In addition, he stressed that regulatory clarity and consistency in policy direction remained critical in attracting sustained investment into the technology sector.
Aminu also noted that NITDA was giving priority to human capital development through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, describing skilled manpower as a vital component of digital infrastructure.
In conclusion, he stated that a strong, well‑structured digital infrastructure framework not only lowered the cost of innovation but also boosted investor confidence and supported the long‑term growth and expansion of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
