The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated that building a strong and reliable digital infrastructure is essential for attracting investment, improving competitiveness, and ensuring sustainable growth in Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
The agency made this known during the Africa Fintech Foundry Ecosystem Roundtable 7.0, a virtual event themed, “The Capital Reset: What Technologies Are Still Fundable in Africa?”
Representing the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the Special Assistant on Digital Transformation, Muhammad Aminu, stated that investors are more inclined to support startups operating within ecosystems backed by dependable digital infrastructure and stable regulatory policies.
According to him, digital infrastructure extends beyond internet connectivity to include cloud computing platforms, digital identity systems, payment infrastructure, data exchange frameworks, interoperability standards, cybersecurity systems, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Aminu explained that these foundational systems help reduce operational challenges for startups, allowing entrepreneurs to focus more on innovation, market expansion, and customer growth rather than building critical infrastructure from scratch.
He added that from an investor’s perspective, efficient digital infrastructure lowers operational risks, enhances scalability, reduces expansion costs, and ultimately increases the attractiveness of startups to both domestic and foreign investors.
The NITDA official also highlighted several government initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy. These include sovereign cloud initiatives, data interoperability frameworks, cloud adoption policies, cybersecurity and data governance reforms, as well as the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.
He further stressed that policy consistency and regulatory clarity remain important factors in attracting long-term investment into the country’s technology sector.
Aminu noted that NITDA is also prioritising talent development through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, describing skilled human capital as a critical aspect of digital infrastructure.
He concluded that a well-developed digital infrastructure framework would not only reduce the cost of innovation but also strengthen investor confidence and support the long-term expansion of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.