UK Government Partners With Stakeholders On Nigeria Start-up Bill
UK Government partners with Stakeholders on Nigeria Start-up Bill
NSB is a joint initiative by Nigeria's Tech Ecosystem and the Presidency, which is being driven by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. The UK Government, through its Africa Technology and Innovation Partnership (ATIP) program and the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, has expressed its commitment to supporting the Nigeria Start-up Bill (NSB).
The Nigeria Start-up Bill project, which aims to harness the potential of the country's digital economy through co-created regulations, will improve the policy and regulatory framework to support growth and competitiveness in Nigeria's Technology Ecosystem. The project is funded by the World Bank and the European Union. The support of the United Kingdom Government will assist in funding the engagement of relevant stakeholders across the country through town hall meetings, as well as providing access to research and evidence to harness the existing opportunities for start-ups and address the challenges in the current policy and regulatory framework, among other things. It will ensure that Nigeria's start-up laws and regulations are clear and beneficial to the ecosystem as a result of the passage of the Bill.
It was due to collaborative efforts between relevant stakeholders in the technology ecosystem that regional town hall meetings were established across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, according to the organizers. These town hall meetings serve to broaden the scope of the conversation and ensure that every key player across the country participates in the ongoing conversation and contributes to the drafting and content of the Start-up Bill, which is currently in the works. Representatives from the Presidency, as well as representatives from the MDAs, will be in attendance at the town hall meetings. Participants in town hall meetings in Kaduna, Yola, and Kwara states were able to participate virtually, as were other stakeholders in the states. These sessions mark the beginning of the first round of discussions in the geopolitical zones of the North-west, North-east, and North-central, which will be followed shortly after by the geopolitical zones of the South-west, South-east, and South-south.
On the UK's support for Nigeria's technology start-ups, Leanne Jones, Team Lead West Africa Research and Innovation, said: "As Africa's technological epicenter, Nigeria will join a growing number of African countries that have enacted a Start-up Bill, pushing for positive change and long-term sustainability in the technology and digital environment." It is our pleasure to support this process, which is based on research and evidence of what will work to improve the enabling environment for start-ups in Nigeria”.
Adaeze Sokan, Country Director of the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to support this collaborative process. Nigeria has demonstrated tremendous growth and potential in the start-up space, and it is encouraging to see both the government and the ecosystem working together to develop laws that will further boost the country's growth. Consensus builds trust and responsibility, which are essential ingredients in making laws effective.
Goal of Becoming a Leading ICT Player in Africa
Nigeria's Federal Government continues to work in partnership with the United Kingdom to realize its vision of becoming a leading ICT player in Africa. This collaboration is carried out through a number of initiatives, including the Africa Technology Innovation Partnership (ATIP), the United Kingdom's Digital Access Programme, and the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub.
With the support of the UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sports (DCMS), the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub aims to support the development of Nigeria's technology ecosystem. The initiative aims to stimulate local digital economies, support inclusive and sustainable economic growth and jobs, develop high-end digital skills, and forge innovative partnerships between local tech firms and international companies.
This programme, funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, aims to strengthen innovation systems throughout Africa, with a particular emphasis on Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. It was launched in 2010. Specifically, it seeks to promote inclusive economic growth while also assisting technology-enabled businesses in scaling up to address development challenges.
