The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have entered into a strategic partnership to attract private-sector investment and expand commercial opportunities for Nigerian startups and technology-driven enterprises.
The partnership, announced on Monday in Abuja, is designed to connect technology innovators supported by NITDA with corporate investors, venture capital firms and commercial buyers across the country.
Under the agreement, NACCIMA will serve as a private-sector investor pipeline and commercial off-take facilitator for NITDA-backed startups, technology ventures and enterprise financing initiatives.
The collaboration will leverage NACCIMA’s network of more than 120 city, state and bilateral chambers, alongside industrial conglomerates, to bridge the gap between technology development and market demand.
NITDA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the partnership would enable indigenous startups to move beyond developing innovative solutions to securing investment and sustainable commercial contracts.
“Combining government policy leadership with the active commercial demand of the organised private sector creates an unprecedented growth engine for Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the partnership would provide startups with direct access to corporate buyers, domestic capital and long-term business opportunities.
The two organisations have identified three priority initiatives under the collaboration, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and the alignment of a Joint Technical Working Group.
The first is NACCIMA’s mobilisation of private-sector participation in the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026, scheduled for Abuja from November 10 to 12.
Under the initiative, NACCIMA will organise business-to-business deal rooms, mobilise corporate investors and venture capital firms, participate in startup evaluation panels and connect indigenous technology companies with potential buyers in manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and services.
The second initiative is a national AI Enterprise Accelerator programme aimed at equipping 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with practical artificial intelligence tools, digital skills, financial readiness and market access opportunities.
The third involves the development of a digital trust mark platform to verify businesses and promote compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, cybersecurity standards and digital trust requirements, particularly along regional trade corridors under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
NACCIMA National President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, said the partnership would strengthen technology adoption across agriculture, manufacturing, trade and mining while improving enterprise productivity.
He also highlighted the importance of connecting businesses with technical talent under the government’s 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
A joint technical team co-chaired by NITDA Director of Special Duties, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, and NACCIMA National Digital Economy Coordinator, Dr. Segun H. Olugbile, is finalising the enterprise pipeline, deal-room structures and implementation arrangements ahead of the formal unveiling at DNICE 2026.
The organisations said interested businesses, corporate investors, technology vendors and startups would be able to obtain registration updates through NITDA’s official platforms and NACCIMA’s Digital Economy Desk.
The partnership is expected to strengthen links between Nigeria’s technology ecosystem and the organised private sector, creating new pathways for investment, innovation and commercial growth.
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