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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has selected approximately 30 startups from more than 1,388 applications to participate in its Builders Festival, an initiative designed to connect technology innovators with organisations, investors and businesses seeking practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Speaking at the festival’s inauguration on the sidelines of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, urged entrepreneurs to move beyond developing technology for its own sake and concentrate on addressing problems affecting the daily lives of Nigerians.
He said the country’s development challenges should be viewed as unmet needs and opportunities for innovation rather than obstacles to progress, stressing that technology must deliver measurable improvements in productivity, business performance and national prosperity.
NITDA urges startups to prioritise real-world problems
Abdullahi emphasised that successful technology development begins with understanding the problems people and businesses face. He cited healthcare and agriculture as sectors where digital solutions could address significant gaps and improve livelihoods.
In healthcare, he pointed to everyday medical challenges as opportunities for health technology entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions that could expand access to services across the country.
He also identified agriculture as an area with considerable potential for technological innovation, noting that farmers continue to contend with unpredictable weather, inadequate soil information and limited access to markets.
According to him, digital platforms that provide reliable weather forecasts, soil information, planting guidance, fertiliser recommendations and market connections could help farmers improve productivity and increase household incomes.
The NITDA chief executive said the Builders Festival was created to bridge the gap between individuals and organisations that understand specific problems and technology entrepreneurs with the capacity to develop solutions.
“The goal is not to be in love with your technology, but to be in love with the problem you are solving. It’s about how your solutions can help millions of Nigerians improve their productivity and national prosperity,” he said.
He added that developing an innovative product does not automatically guarantee commercial success, making collaboration with potential users, customers and investors essential to turning ideas into sustainable businesses.
NITDA highlights opportunities in healthcare, agriculture and SME financing
Abdullahi referenced findings from NITDA’s research to illustrate the gap between demand for digital services and their actual adoption in Nigeria.
He disclosed that 80 per cent of Nigerian adults wanted access to telemedicine, but only 19 per cent had ever used the service. The figures, he said, point to an opportunity for startups to develop solutions that can make digital healthcare more accessible and widely adopted.
Agriculture also presents a substantial opportunity, with more than 40 per cent of Nigeria’s population engaged in the sector. However, farmers continue to face information and market access challenges that affect their productivity.
He further highlighted the financing difficulties confronting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for the overwhelming majority of businesses in Nigeria.
According to Abdullahi, technology entrepreneurs could help address these constraints by developing digital tools that enable SMEs to maintain accurate financial records, demonstrate business performance and establish the transparency needed to access bank credit.
These examples, he explained, demonstrate how technology can address practical economic challenges while creating opportunities for businesses to grow.
NITDA calls for measurable productivity gains from digital adoption
The agency’s Director-General stressed that access to technology must translate into actual adoption and measurable improvements in people’s lives.
He argued that owning a mobile phone or having access to digital services offers limited value if individuals and businesses cannot use them to save time, reduce costs, improve operations and increase their incomes.
Abdullahi therefore challenged startup founders to develop solutions capable of delivering meaningful productivity gains, creating wealth and contributing to national economic growth.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to think beyond the domestic market by building products with the quality and potential to compete internationally.
For startups, this means placing user needs and practical outcomes at the centre of product development, rather than measuring innovation solely by the sophistication of the technology involved.
Only 30 startups selected from more than 1,388 applications
Abdullahi disclosed that the Builders Festival received more than 1,388 applications from startups seeking to participate, but only about 30 were selected.
He congratulated the successful applicants and encouraged them to assess the value of their innovations by the number of individuals and businesses they could help.
The selection reflects the festival’s focus on identifying technology builders whose solutions can respond to specific challenges and deliver practical economic benefits.
He also called for more platforms that connect problem owners with problem solvers, supported by an institutional environment that encourages technology adoption, expands business opportunities and strengthens Nigeria’s digital economy.
NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa partner to connect startups with opportunities
The Builders Festival is being organised through a strategic partnership between NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa.
The collaboration is intended to create an environment where Nigerian innovators can move beyond developing technology for its own sake and concentrate on solutions to pressing economic and social challenges.
Through the initiative, both organisations seek to strengthen connections between startups, investors, corporate organisations and institutions with operational problems that require technology-driven solutions.
The festival is also expected to encourage collaboration, attract investment and promote the adoption of homegrown technologies.
By bringing innovators closer to potential customers, funding partners and organisations with specific needs, the initiative aims to support the development of commercially viable solutions and expand opportunities within Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
The emphasis on practical problem-solving and stronger connections between technology developers and the wider economy reflects a broader priority for Nigeria’s digital transformation: ensuring that innovation translates into wider adoption, business growth and measurable improvements in productivity.
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