The Nigerian government has appointed a committee of 27 members to implement the Nigeria Startup Act, which aims to promote the country's innovative ecosystem. The Act seeks to make Nigeria's laws and regulations transparent, well-planned, and beneficial to the tech sector.
The committee members come from various backgrounds, including academia, members of the commercial sector, and relevant government organizations. Professor Salahu Junaidu, a professor of computer science at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, and Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu will co-chair the committee.
The Nigeria Startup Act was legislated on October 19, 2022, after the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari. It offers an institutional and legal framework for creating and managing startups in Nigeria. The Act has also positioned the Nigerian startup ecosystem as the leading digital hub in Africa and fostered the development of technology-related talents in the country.
In his speech at the inauguration, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, highlighted the importance of investing in startups. "Today, digital entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and knowledge are building the global economy, and we need to invest in our youth that have innovative ideas," he said.
He also revealed that the federal government had agreed to expend N10 billion annually to support the Nigeria Startup Act, which can be given to startups as seed funds, grants, or loans. The committee is responsible for coordinating operational plans, establishing the baseline of the ecosystem in terms of digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and mentoring younger ones in the area by helping them identify their financial challenges and reviewing their critical requests.
The implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act is expected to propel growth in Nigeria's IT sector and create an atmosphere that is supportive of entrepreneurs.
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