By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have partnered to connect Nigerian technology startups with private-sector investors, corporate buyers and commercial opportunities.

The partnership was announced in a joint statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, following the execution of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the alignment of a Joint Technical Working Group co-chaired by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of NITDA’s Special Duties Directorate, and Dr. Segun H. Olugbile, NACCIMA’s National Digital Economy Coordinator.

Under the arrangement, 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 is expected to link technology innovators with businesses across NACCIMA’s network of more than 120 city, state and bilateral chambers, as well as industrial conglomerates.

NITDA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the partnership would help indigenous technology businesses gain access to investment and 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: “Through NACCIMA, we are ensuring that indigenous startups and tech innovators do not just build solutions, but gain direct access to corporate buyers, domestic capital, and sustainable commercial contracts.”

The statement outlined three priority initiatives under the partnership, beginning with private-sector mobilisation for the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026, scheduled for Abuja from November 10 to 12.

NACCIMA will organise business-to-business deal rooms, mobilise corporate investors and venture capital firms, participate in startup evaluation juries and connect Nigerian technology startups with corporate buyers in manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics and services.

Another initiative is a national programme designed to equip 10,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with practical artificial intelligence tools, digital skills, financial readiness support and market access opportunities.

The third priority is the proposed launch of a digital trust mark platform to onboard verified businesses and promote compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, cybersecurity readiness and digital trust across regional trade corridors, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

NACCIMA National President, Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim, said the partnership would encourage technology adoption across traditional industries and improve enterprise productivity.

“This strategic alliance positions Nigerian commerce and industry at the forefront of technology adoption,” Ibrahim said.

He added that NACCIMA was committed to serving as a primary off-taker and investor pipeline for NITDA-supported startups.

“By connecting traditional industries—agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and mining—with innovative digital solutions and 3MTT technical talent, we are driving enterprise productivity and building a resilient, future-ready economy,” he stated.

The two organisations said their Joint Technical Working Group was finalising the enterprise pipeline, deal-room structures and launch arrangements ahead of the formal unveiling at DNICE 2026 in Abuja.

Startups, technology vendors, corporate investors and enterprises interested in the business-to-business deal rooms or the proposed 10,000-MSME AI Enterprise Accelerator were advised to follow registration updates through NACCIMA’s Digital Economy Desk and NITDA’s official platforms.

NITDA is the federal agency responsible for coordinating and promoting information technology development and digital transformation in Nigeria, while NACCIMA represents chambers of commerce, business associations and corporate enterprises across the country.