Mariam Abeeb
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has challenged Nigerian technology startups to prioritise solutions to the country’s pressing challenges rather than focus solely on developing innovative products.
Abdullahi gave the charge at the inauguration of the Builders Festival, held on the sidelines of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), as a platform to connect startups with investors, corporate organisations and potential customers.
He said Nigeria’s numerous challenges should be seen as opportunities for innovation, urging technology entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions capable of improving healthcare, agriculture, business productivity and national prosperity.
The NITDA boss identified healthcare and agriculture as sectors with significant opportunities for digital innovation, noting that technology could improve access to medical services and help farmers overcome challenges relating to weather forecasts, soil information, planting techniques and access to markets.
He disclosed that NITDA’s research showed that 80 per cent of Nigerian adults wanted access to telemedicine, but only 19 per cent had ever used the service. He also noted that more than 40 per cent of the country’s population were farmers, while small and medium-sized enterprises continued to face difficulties accessing bank credit.
According to him, startups could address these gaps by developing digital platforms that improve agricultural productivity and help SMEs maintain proper financial records, demonstrate business performance and meet the transparency requirements of financial institutions.
“ The goal is not to be in love with your technology, but to be in love with the problem you are solving. It’s about how your solutions can help millions of Nigerians improve their productivity and national prosperity,” he said.
Abdullahi stressed that access to technology must translate into actual adoption and measurable improvements in productivity, explaining that digital services should help individuals and businesses save time, reduce costs, improve operations and increase incomes.
He urged founders to build scalable solutions capable of creating wealth and competing in international markets, while measuring their success by the number of lives and businesses positively impacted by their innovations.
The Director-General disclosed that more than 1,388 startups applied to participate in the Builders Festival, but only about 30 were selected, congratulating the successful participants and encouraging them to maximise the opportunities provided by the platform.
He explained that the festival was designed to bridge the gap between organisations and individuals with problems and technology entrepreneurs with the capacity to develop solutions, adding that the initiative went beyond celebrating startups to facilitating partnerships and creating viable businesses.
The Builders Festival is a product of a strategic partnership between NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa aimed at connecting Nigerian innovators with investors, corporate organisations and institutions seeking technology-driven solutions.
The partnership is expected to promote the adoption of homegrown innovations, attract investment, strengthen collaboration and accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
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