Grace Ashiru
Nigeria recently introduced the Startup Support and Engagement Portal, a pivotal step in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act. Launched in May 2021 by the Nigerian presidency and influential figures in the tech sector, this legislation aims to establish clear guidelines for collaboration among startups, government bodies, and regulators. Officially signed into law by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022, following approval by the Federal Executive Council in December 2021 and Senate passage in July 2022, the act aims to propel Nigeria’s technology sector to the forefront of Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The initiation of the portal marks a crucial step in launching startup consultative forums for the selection of representatives to the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, fostering dialogue and consensus within Nigeria’s ecosystem, as announced by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The newly established startup site is vital in advancing the ongoing implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act, providing a platform for ecosystem stakeholders to participate and seek support actively. It is a hub for discovering and aggregating Nigerian startups, venture capital firms, hubs, and innovation centers.
Following Italy’s pioneering approval of the world’s first startup law in 2012, Senegal and Tunisia became the first African countries to enact similar regulations.
Registration is now open for innovation centres, hubs, venture capital firms, and startups in Nigeria. The full text of the bill is accessible on this website. Additionally, a summary of the bill is available for download here.
