By Nkechi Eze
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has urged Nigerian technology entrepreneurs to develop innovations that solve real-life problems, improve productivity and create wealth rather than focus solely on building sophisticated products.
Abdullahi gave the charge at the inauguration of the Builders Festival, held on the sidelines of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), where he emphasised the need for startups to translate technological innovations into practical solutions that improve the lives of Nigerians.
He said the country’s numerous challenges in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and financial services should be viewed as opportunities for innovation, investment and business growth.
The NITDA chief identified healthcare as one of the sectors with significant potential for technology-driven solutions, disclosing that the agency’s research showed that about 80 per cent of Nigerian adults wanted access to telemedicine, but only 19 per cent had ever used the service.
He said the gap presented an opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop digital health solutions capable of expanding access to healthcare services.
On agriculture, Abdullahi noted that farmers continued to grapple with unpredictable weather conditions, inadequate soil information and limited access to markets.
He urged technology founders to develop solutions that could provide farmers with timely weather forecasts, soil information, planting guidance, fertiliser recommendations and access to markets to improve productivity and household incomes.
He also challenged startups to address the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing bank credit through digital solutions that would help them maintain proper financial records, demonstrate business performance and establish the transparency required by financial institutions.
Abdullahi explained that the Builders Festival was designed to bridge the gap between organisations and individuals with specific challenges and technology entrepreneurs capable of developing solutions to address them.
He said the platform would bring together problem owners, technology developers, corporate organisations, investors and potential customers to establish partnerships that could transform innovative ideas into viable businesses.
“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 further stressed that access to technology must translate into actual adoption and measurable improvements in productivity, noting that digital solutions should enable individuals and businesses to save time, reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase their incomes.
The NITDA director-general urged founders to develop products capable of creating wealth and contributing to national prosperity, while maintaining the potential to compete in international markets.
He disclosed that more than 1,388 startups applied to participate in the Builders Festival, but only about 30 were selected.
Abdullahi congratulated the selected startups and urged them to measure their success by the number of lives and businesses their innovations could improve.
The Builders Festival is a strategic partnership between NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa aimed at connecting Nigerian startups with investors, corporate organisations and institutions seeking technology-driven solutions.
The initiative is expected to promote collaboration, attract investment, encourage the adoption of homegrown innovations and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
