NITDA Launches Investment Window for Nigerian Tech Startups

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has opened a new investment window for Nigerian startups developing technology-driven solutions to business and social challenges.

According to a notice, the agency is inviting investors, venture capital firms and financial institutions to the Digital Nigeria Builders Festival 2026, where selected startups will have the opportunity to showcase their businesses directly to potential funders.

NITDA said the festival would focus on startups addressing identifiable market needs, testing their products and services, and building businesses with potential for scale.

The agency urged investors to engage directly with founders to understand the problems their businesses are solving and the solutions they are developing.

“Don’t just hear the pitch. See the problem. Understand the solution. Meet the builder,” NITDA said.

Applications for the Builders Festival opened on September 26 and will close on October 16, 2026.

Selected startups will showcase their businesses at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions (DNICE) 2026, scheduled to hold from November 10 to 12.

The festival is being organised by NITDA in partnership with Tech Revolution Africa and is expected to connect participating startups with investors, venture capital firms and financial institutions.

The initiative comes as Nigeria’s technology ecosystem continues to expand, with startups developing locally focused solutions across various sectors of the economy.

NITDA encouraged investors to use the platform to discover emerging businesses, engage their founders and explore potential investment opportunities.

For startups, raising funds signals validation of their business model, market potential, and growth trajectory, while also providing the financial runway needed to scale operations, invest in innovation, and compete effectively. This can be done via a number of means, including bootstrapping, venture capital, private equity, debt financing, crowdfunding, accelerators, grants, corporate investments, initial public offerings (IPOs), and revenue-based financing, among others.

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Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.