The National Information Technology Development Agency has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s SME-driven innovation ecosystem following engagement with innovators, founders, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders at the Future Map Foundation Roundtable 1.0, North-West Edition.
The forum focused on building a strong, inclusive, and sustainable innovation environment that supports small businesses and technology-driven enterprises across Northern Nigeria, with discussions centred on how regional innovation policies can better reflect the realities of SMEs operating in emerging digital markets.
During the roundtable, participants explored practical funding pathways, public-private collaboration, and policy coordination required to help startups and small businesses scale their solutions beyond local communities. The conversations highlighted innovation as a key driver of productivity, job creation, and competitiveness for SMEs, particularly in regions where access to capital, infrastructure, and markets remains uneven.
The Director General of NITDA stressed that digital transformation must deliver real and measurable business value for entrepreneurs. According to him, innovation should be people-focused, locally relevant, and globally competitive, enabling SMEs to grow more efficiently, adopt technology in their daily operations, and access new markets without being excluded by structural barriers.
The engagement also underscored the importance of trust, coordination, and long-term partnerships between government institutions, private sector players, and ecosystem builders. Participants agreed that collaboration, rather than isolated interventions, is essential to unlocking the North-West’s innovation potential and positioning SMEs as active contributors to Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
By aligning innovation policy with the practical needs of enterprises, the roundtable reinforced Nigeria’s broader push for inclusive digital growth where small businesses are not just beneficiaries, but central drivers of economic development, technological adoption, and sustainable job creation.
