The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said that reliable digital infrastructure remains a major factor in attracting investment and supporting the growth of startups in Nigeria.
The agency made this known at the Africa Fintech Foundry Ecosystem Roundtable 7.0, a virtual event themed “The capital reset: What Technologies Are Still Fundable in Africa?”
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, the Special Assistant on Digital Transformation to the DG, Muhammad Aminu, said investors are more interested in startups that operate in environments with stable infrastructure and clear policy direction.
He explained that digital infrastructure is not limited to internet access alone. It also includes systems such as cloud services, digital identity, payment infrastructure, data exchange platforms, interoperability standards, cybersecurity frameworks, and emerging artificial intelligence tools.
According to him, these systems reduce the burden on startups by allowing founders to focus on building products and growing their businesses instead of developing core infrastructure on their own.
He added that strong digital infrastructure helps reduce risk for investors, lowers the cost of expansion, and makes it easier for startups to scale.
Aminu also pointed to ongoing government efforts aimed at improving the country’s digital space. These include sovereign cloud initiatives, data interoperability plans, cloud adoption policies, cybersecurity and data governance reforms, and the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act.
He stressed that consistent regulation and clear policy direction are important in maintaining investor confidence in the tech sector.
He further said the agency is focusing on skills development through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, noting that trained manpower is also part of the wider digital infrastructure needed for growth.
He concluded that improving digital infrastructure will help reduce the cost of innovation and support the long-term growth of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
