csrreporters 
The Federal Government and key players in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have reaffirmed their commitment to providing Nigerian tech startups with technical and financial support to expand globally.
The pledge was made at the just-concluded GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference in Lagos, where government leaders, industry experts, and investors discussed strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, noted that ICT contributes between 16 and 18 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP, making it the country’s fastest-growing sector. He stressed that technology must drive productivity across agriculture, education, manufacturing, and governance under the Renewed Hope agenda.
Tijani unveiled several federal initiatives, including Project Bridge, a 90,000km fibre backbone to connect all states and local governments; the 3MTT Programme, projected to be the world’s largest digital skills initiative; and a forthcoming National Digital Economy and New Governance Bill to enhance trust and accountability in the digital space.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, highlighted the Innovate Naija Challenge as a platform to support young innovators with funding and mentorship, noting that winners across the country could secure up to ₦100 million in support.
Similarly, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, urged startups to focus on innovations that solve practical problems and scale across Africa. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, assured young entrepreneurs of government backing through partnerships and collaborations with the private sector.
On the international front, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) restated its commitment to Africa’s digital transformation, disclosing over $6 billion investments in the continent’s digital infrastructure in the last decade, including broadband, fibre connectivity, and data centres.
AfriLabs, the world’s largest network of pan-African innovation hubs, also announced its role as a private sector partner in the Innovate Naija Challenge, working with NASENI to identify and support top innovators nationwide.
GITEX Nigeria served as a platform to connect global technology leaders with Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy, reinforcing the country’s potential as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in Africa.
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