The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially set April 28, 2025, as the date for the inaugural meeting of the Startup Consultative Forum. This marks a pivotal development in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act 2022. The forum is designed to unite key stakeholders from Nigeria’s tech and innovation sector to strengthen collaboration between government agencies and the startup ecosystem.
The Startup Consultative Forum is a key component of the Nigeria Startup Act, which was signed into law in 2022 to promote innovation, attract investment, and support the growth of tech-enabled startups in Nigeria. The Act aims to create an enabling environment for startups by aligning regulatory policies, providing incentives, and ensuring active stakeholder engagement.
This inaugural meeting marks a crucial step in realizing the objectives of the Act, particularly in setting up the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCDIE)—the highest decision-making body under the Act. The forum will provide an avenue for the nomination of startup representatives to the council, ensuring that the voices of founders and innovators are included in shaping national policy.
The Startup Consultative Forum will serve as a recurring platform where stakeholders from across the startup landscape—founders, investors, accelerators, and support organizations—can engage in dialogue with policymakers. This will foster a transparent and participatory governance model for Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
Discussions during the forum will focus on identifying challenges faced by startups, recommending actionable policies, and sharing insights on how best to implement supportive frameworks for growth and sustainability.
Startups interested in being part of the forum are required to register on the Nigeria Startup Portal, a centralized platform that also facilitates the issuance of the Startup Label—a key requirement to access government-backed incentives.
The Startup Label qualifies startups for various benefits, including:
- Access to government funding schemes
- Tax reliefs and regulatory support
- Capacity-building and technical training
- Participation in exclusive innovation and export programs
By facilitating this engagement, NITDA is not only enhancing transparency and inclusion but also ensuring that startups receive the backing needed to thrive in a competitive global market.
NITDA has consistently positioned itself as a forward-thinking agency committed to promoting innovation, digital literacy, and economic diversification through technology. The agency’s latest move reinforces its role in driving the digital transformation agenda and supporting the implementation of policies that foster an inclusive digital economy.
The Startup Consultative Forum is expected to become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s startup development efforts, serving as a model for public-private collaboration and long-term innovation policy planning.
