The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched a new initiative aimed at connecting government institutions, private organisations, and development agencies with local technology innovators capable of solving operational and structural challenges through digital solutions.
The initiative, known as the DNICE Builders Festival, is part of preparations for the 2025 Digital Nigeria Conference and Exhibition.
According to NITDA, the programme seeks to move beyond the traditional hackathon model by focusing on “demand discovery,” a process that enables institutions to present specific problems requiring technology-driven solutions. The agency said organisations will be invited to submit operational bottlenecks and institutional challenges in areas such as healthcare delivery, financial inclusion, regulatory compliance, supply chain management, and data infrastructure.
The most pressing challenges identified through the process will be published, allowing startups and technology companies from across Africa to propose innovative solutions. Selected innovators will then be matched with institutions and provided opportunities to present implementation plans to government officials, investors, business leaders, and development partners.
Speaking on the initiative, NITDA’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda by ensuring that locally developed technologies are deployed to solve real-world institutional problems. He noted that the initiative is designed to bridge the long-standing gap between organisations facing operational challenges and technology companies capable of addressing them.
Co-founder of Tech Revolution Africa, Glory Olamigoke, described the initiative as a practical platform for connecting innovators with institutions seeking solutions. She noted that Africa possesses abundant technical talent but often struggles with coordination between problem owners and solution providers.
NITDA said the DNICE Builders Festival will provide a structured framework for innovation, helping institutions access home-grown technology solutions while creating opportunities for startups to secure commercial deployments, attract investment, and scale their innovations. The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and promote greater adoption of indigenous technology solutions.
