The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has announced the appointment of four representatives from the Startup Consultative Forum (SCF) to serve on the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCDIE) for a two-year term.
Gatekeepers News reports that the newly appointed members include Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Founding Partner at Future Africa and co-founder of Andela and Flutterwave; Victoria Manya, Co-founder and Executive Director of Advocacy for Policy and Innovation; Charles Uchenna Emembolu, Founder of TechQuest; and Abba Ibrahim Gamawa, Founder of Go Agent Limited.
Voice of Startup Founders
According to NITDA, the representatives will play a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s startup and innovation ecosystem by ensuring that the voices of founders are reflected in national policy decisions.
Their mandate includes contributing proposals to the NCDIE to ensure that the objectives of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) are effectively implemented through evidence-based policies and monitoring frameworks.
“This demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to strengthening the digital innovation ecosystem by championing increased collaboration between the government, private sector, academia, and other stakeholders — paving the way for a brighter digital future,” NITDA stated.
The agency noted that the inclusion of startup representatives on the council underscores its commitment to fostering inclusivity and collaboration that translates digital progress into tangible economic and social outcomes.
Background
Signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022, the Nigeria Startup Act provides a legal and institutional framework to support startup growth and strengthen partnerships between innovators and regulators.
The Act established the NCDIE as the principal body responsible for overseeing implementation, alongside the Startup Consultative Forum, which serves as a link between policymakers and the innovation community.
By empowering ecosystem representatives to participate directly in governance, NITDA said it aims to ensure that Nigeria’s digital economy policies remain responsive to the realities of entrepreneurs driving technological advancement across the country.
Progress on Implementation
As part of the Act’s rollout, ONDI said progress is being made on the startup labelling process, which encourages Nigerian startups to register on the government’s official portal.
According to the office, 75 startups had been officially labelled as of May 2025, while efforts are ongoing to close the funding gap for emerging ventures through the $40 million Startup Investment Seed Fund.
The ONDI revealed that $20 million of the Fund has been secured from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the remaining $20 million to be matched by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
