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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 connect indigenous technology startups with private-sector investors, corporate buyers and commercial opportunities across Nigeria.
The partnership is designed to bridge the gap between technology innovation and market demand by linking NITDA-backed startups and technology ventures with businesses across manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, mining and services.
Under the arrangement, NACCIMA will serve as a private-sector investment pipeline and commercial off-taker facilitator for startups supported by NITDA, leveraging its network of more than 120 city, state and bilateral chambers, alongside industrial conglomerates and other business organisations.
The collaboration will focus on mobilising private capital, creating business-to-business (B2B) deal-making opportunities and promoting the adoption of locally developed digital solutions by Nigerian enterprises.
As part of the immediate implementation plan, NACCIMA will lead private-sector mobilisation for the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026, scheduled for November 10 to 12 in Abuja.
The association will organise B2B deal rooms, mobilise corporate investors and venture capital firms, participate in startup evaluation juries and connect indigenous technology companies with potential corporate customers.
The initiative is expected to create opportunities for startups to demonstrate their solutions to businesses seeking technology to improve productivity, streamline operations and expand their markets.
The partnership also includes a proposed national programme to equip 10,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with practical artificial intelligence (AI) tools, digital skills, financial readiness structures and market access opportunities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Another component is the planned introduction of a digital trust mark platform to onboard verified businesses and promote compliance with data protection and cybersecurity standards.
The initiative is intended to strengthen digital trust and support businesses participating in regional trade, including transactions linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the partnership would connect government-backed technology innovation with the commercial needs of the private sector.
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“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 collaboration would help indigenous startups move beyond developing technology solutions to securing access to corporate buyers, domestic capital and sustainable commercial contracts.
National President of NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim, said the association was committed to connecting traditional industries with innovative digital solutions and technical talent.
According to him, the partnership would support technology adoption across agriculture, manufacturing, trade and mining while improving enterprise productivity.
NACCIMA will also work to connect businesses with technical talent from the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, according to the announcement.
To coordinate implementation, both organisations have established a Joint Technical Working Group co-chaired by Aristotle Onumo, Director of Special Duties at NITDA, and Segun H. Olugbile, NACCIMA’s National Digital Economy Coordinator.
The group is working on the enterprise pipeline, deal-room arrangements and implementation plans ahead of the formal unveiling of the initiatives at DNICE 2026.
The organisations said startups, corporate investors, technology vendors and enterprises interested in participating in the B2B deal rooms or the proposed 10,000-MSME AI initiative could obtain registration updates through NITDA’s official channels and NACCIMA’s Digital Economy Desk.
The partnership comes amid growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by encouraging local technology development and increasing the adoption of digital solutions across businesses.
However, its impact will depend on the extent to which participating startups secure actual investment, paid contracts and repeat business, while MSMEs gain practical access to the promised AI tools and digital skills.
For Nigerian technology entrepreneurs, the central test will be whether the collaboration translates into commercially viable opportunities and sustained demand for locally developed solutions.
