The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the Startup Support and Engagement Portal.
The announcement was made by Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy on the X’s platform.
According to him, the newly launched portal plays a crucial role in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.
Tijani stated in a tweet, “We are pleased to announce the Startup Support and Engagement Portal launch, https://startup.gov.ng/, a key requirement for implementing the Nigeria Startup Act. The startup portal will drive the identification and aggregation of Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs, and innovation centres to facilitate engagement and support for ecosystem players.”
One of the portal’s key features is its ability to enable the government to establish startup consultative forums. These forums will play a pivotal role in selecting representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This approach aims to foster discourse and consensus among various stakeholders within the ecosystem.
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Tijani invited all Nigerian startup venture capital companies, hubs, and innovation centers to register on the portal (https://startup.gov.ng/).
He emphasised the government’s commitment to collaborating with industry stakeholders to fully implement the Startup Act for the benefit of the innovation ecosystem. The National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) is expected to spearhead the implementation of the Nigerian Startup Act.
The development follows the signing of the Startup Act into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 19, 2022. The move has garnered support from key figures involved in the legislation, such as Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, the former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari (Digital Transformation) and lead for the Nigeria Startup Bill.
Guobadia emphasised the importance of collaboration in sustainable policy development and urged beneficiaries to remain engaged.
