…kicks off implementation of Startup act
By Blessing Emmanuel, Abuja
In a significant move to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the Startup Support and Engagement Portal.
This online platform, a pivotal component of the Nigeria Startup Act, aims to streamline the identification and aggregation of startups across the country.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, on X o Tuesday night.
Tijani in a tweet expressed the government’s enthusiasm about the portal’s launch, emphasizing its role in implementing the Nigeria Startup Act.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of the Startup Support and Engagement Portal, https://startup.gov.ng/, a key requirement for the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act,” the tweet read.
“The startup portal will drive the identification and aggregation of Nigerian startups, venture capital companies, hubs, and innovation centres to facilitate engagement and support for ecosystem players.”
Dr. Tijani also explained that the portal’s introduction would enable the government to establish startup consultative forums. These forums will play a crucial role in selecting representatives for the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, fostering dialogue and consensus among ecosystem participants.
“We invite all Nigerian startup venture capital companies, hubs, and innovation centres to register at the portal https://startup.gov.ng/ and look forward to working with all industry stakeholders to ensure that we fully implement the Startup Act for the benefit of our innovation ecosystem. Cc: NITDA Nigeria,” he said.
This initiative follows the signing of the Startup Act into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari a year ago.
Oswald Osaretin Guobadia, former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari (Digital Transformation) and lead for the Nigeria Startup Bill, lauded the government’s announcement on Twitter.
He emphasized the collaborative nature of sustainable policy development and urged beneficiaries to remain engaged in the process.
As the Startup Support and Engagement Portal goes live, it marks a crucial step toward realizing the goals outlined in the Startup Act and promoting a thriving ecosystem for startups, venture capital companies, and innovation hubs in Nigeria.