On Tuesday, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) sought stakeholders’ collaboration to develop indigenous technologies by leveraging the Nigeria Startup Act 2022.

NITDA boss Kashifu Inuwa made the call at the graduation of 13 founders from its 2023 Startup Accelerator Programme in collaboration with the Founder Institute in Abuja.

Mr Inuwa said the Nigeria Startup Act of 2022 was a crucial piece of legislation offering favourable advantages such as regulatory support, tax reliefs/incentives, capacity building and unambiguous governance guidelines for the country’s tech ecosystem.

He added that the Nigeria Startup Act could be leveraged to diversify the nation’s economy and create opportunities for indigenous tech innovation enterprises.

Mr Inuwa said the graduation ceremony further showed the government’s recognition of digital innovation and entrepreneurship as catalysts for transforming traditional economic sectors.

“It is instructive that the federal government recognises that digital innovation and entrepreneurship are major catalysts for the rapid transformation of traditional economic sectors.

“The government has been supporting the provision and adoption of indigenous and tailor-made solutions for the nationwide implementation of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding tech innovation ecosystem.

“This programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on diversifying the economy. It is addressing the area that says leveraging technology for accelerating diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation,” he said.

He commended NITDA and Founder Institute for their commitments to upgrading the capacity of the new set of innovative portfolio startup companies.

He also expressed NITDA’s preparedness to partner local and international entities to address challenges faced by talented indigenous startups, fostering an environment conducive to growing innovation in the tech sector.

(NAN)