The Federal Government has unveiled a significant initiative, the Startup Support and Engagement Portal, aligning with the Nigeria Startup Act’s implementation, aimed at aggregating and identifying startups across the country.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, revealed the launch of the portal, emphasizing its pivotal role in fostering engagement and support for startups, venture capital firms, hubs, and innovation centers within Nigeria’s innovation landscape.
In a Tuesday night tweet, Dr. Tijani announced, “We are thrilled to unveil the Startup Support and Engagement Portal, https://startup.gov.ng/, a crucial component for enforcing the Nigeria Startup Act. This portal will streamline the identification and aggregation of Nigerian startups, venture capital firms, hubs, and innovation centers, fostering meaningful engagement and support for our ecosystem.”
Highlighting the broader implications, he mentioned plans to establish consultative forums for startups, enabling the selection of representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This strategic move aims to facilitate discussions and consensus-building among ecosystem players.
Dr. Tijani extended an invitation to all Nigerian startups, venture capital firms, hubs, and innovation centers to register on the portal https://startup.gov.ng/, emphasizing the collaborative effort needed to fully implement the Startup Act and maximize benefits for the innovation ecosystem.
This announcement follows the enactment of the Startup Act a year ago by former President Muhammadu Buhari, marking a significant step toward fostering an enabling environment for startup growth and innovation in Nigeria.
In a supportive tweet, Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, the former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari (Digital Transformation) and lead for the Nigeria Start Up Bill, emphasized the importance of collaboration in sustainable policy development, urging stakeholders’ continued engagement to drive impactful outcomes.