By The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), needs relevant stakeholders to collaborate in leveraging this game-changing legislation to diversify the economy and create opportunities for indigenous tech innovation enterprises.
According to the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the Agency is in search for local partners for its Founder Institute (FI) 2023 Startup Accelerator Programme, which just graduated of 13 outstanding founders who demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation during the rigorous 14-week accelerator program.
Inuwa at the graduation ceremony commended the commitment of both NITDA and Founder Institute in upgrading the capacity of the new set of innovative portfolio startup companies.
He said “the I highly commend the rigorous review phases today’s graduands passed through and it is with great pride that I congratulate the 13 founders who excelled at the programme. Your success in the programme is a clarion call for you to sustain the determination and diligence to gainfully explore the boundless innovative future that beckons at you.
“To others who participated in the programme, the knowledge gained will remains yours as you have garnered new insights to prepare you for the challenges ahead. I salute your courage in making it to the Accelerator programme.
“It is instructive that the federal government recognizes that digital innovation and entrepreneurship are major catalysts for the rapid transformation of traditional economic sectors by supporting the provision and adoption of indigenous and tailor-made solutions for the nationwide implementation of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding tech innovation ecosystem.
He also assured NITDA’s preparedness to partner with local and international entities to address challenges faced by talented indigenous startups, fostering an environment conducive to growth and innovation in the tech sector.
The ceremony, attended by key industry stakeholders, government officials, and tech enthusiasts, emphasized the collaborative efforts between NITDA and Founder Institute in fostering a vibrant tech innovation ecosystem in Nigeria.
The Founder Institute, under a contract agreement with NITDA, executed a virtual Accelerator Programme that aimed to discover and nurture founders with innovative startup ideas in emerging technologies, including Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Cybersecurity, e-Commerce, Software, Fintech, EdTech, Internet of Things (IoT), and Biotechnology.
The programme, which commenced on October 18, 2023, attracted a total of fifty founders, with 30 enrolled from NITDA and 20 from the Founder Institute. The accelerator featured 16 knowledge acquisition sessions, covering various aspects of entrepreneurship, product development, and mentorship.
The rigorous review phases during the programme included Mentor Review sessions, Mentor Idea Review (MIR), Product Development sessions, and Mentor Progress Review (MPR) sessions.
