We will work together to implement the law that will support the growth of the tech startup ecosystem.

About the Startup Act

The Nigeria Startup Act project is a joint initiative by Nigeria’s tech startup ecosystem and the Presidency to harness the potential of our digital economy through co-created regulations. The Act is aimed at ensuring that Nigeria's laws and regulations are clear, planned and work for the tech ecosystem. This, we believe, will contribute to the creation of an enabling environment for the growth of the ecosystem, as well as the attraction and protection of investment in tech startups.

The Act was signed into law by H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari on the 19th of October, 2022. Over 30 leaders in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem contributed to its drafting between June and September 2021.

Our young people are our most valuable natural resource, at home and abroad. Their ingenuity, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit is evident to all.

We will partner with the legislature to develop an enabling environment to turn their passions into ideas that can be supported, groomed and scaled.

His Excellency

Muhammadu Buhari

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Timeline

First draft produced
June 2021
We harmonise existing laws/regulations and feed input to the legal framework from key ecosystem leaders (MDAs, States, Networks).

First draft validated
July 2021
The first draft of the bill is reviewed by ecosystem leaders and representatives, as well as the Presidential Working Group composed of MDA decision-makers critical to implementing components of the bill.

Town Halls
August 2021
The presidential announcement and town hall meetings take place for public consultation and validation of the second draft of the bill. This sees the participation of ecosystem stakeholders at the state level in all geopolitical zones.

Final Draft Produced
September 2021
Drafting teams take all the input and make revisions to feed into the final bill.

Bill Submitted
October 2021
The bill is submitted to the President who then submits Executive Bill to the National Assembly.

Assembly floor
December 2021
The bill is sent to the National Assembly.

Public Hearing
June 2022
The National Assembly holds a public hearing of the bill

Bill Passed
July 2022
The National Assembly passes the Nigerian Startup Bill.

Bill becomes Act
October 2022
The Nigeria Startup Bill receives presidential assent to become the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA).

Summary of the Act

Click here to view summary

Preview of the Act

The Nigeria Startup Act is targeted at fostering the creation and development of an enabling environment for technology-enabled startups in Nigeria and for related matters.

Click here to view the act

News and Updates

7 months ago

Presidential Assent of the Nigeria Startup Bill

7 months ago

The Nigeria Startup Act: A new dawn for the Nigerian startup ecosystem

7 months ago

Enabling the Next Wave of Growth for Technology Companies in Africa

7 months ago

Nigeria Startup Bill becomes Act as Presidency signs it into law

8 months ago

The NSB and its Harmonization with Other Laws

8 months ago

Unlocking the wheels of Nigerian innovation: A look at the startup bill

Videos

6 months ago

The Nigeria Startup Bill is now an Act!

6 months ago

The Nigeria Startup Bill receives presidential assent

6 months ago

Why should startups be excited about the Nigeria Startup Act?

6 months ago

What do your Reps and Senators Have to Say About the Nigeria Startup Bill?

6 months ago

Temi Marcella Awogboro Speaks on the Nigeria Startup Bill

6 months ago

Victoria Manya Speaks on the Nigeria Startup Bill

6 months ago

NIGERIA STARTUP BILL AND YOU || EPISODE 5: THE BILL'S JOURNEY

The Nigeria Startup Bill is now an Act!

Got ideas to contribute?

Here you can have your say on the Act, indicating challenges yet to be addressed, propose additional policy solutions or propose amendments to specific articles.

Call:

01-888-5011

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is leading this initiative?

The Nigeria Startup Act project is a joint initiative by Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and the Presidency to harness the potential of our digital economy through co-created regulations. While this is our act; it is being project managed by the Ventures Platform Foundation and supervised by the Presidential Strategic Advisory Group composed of stakeholder representatives from the tech-startup ecosystem in Nigeria.

How do we ensure all tech sectors are covered?

By jointly reviewing the drafts of the act and giving your inputs. You can participate by clicking on here

What is the scope of this project?

We plan that this act is submitted to the NASS by October and passed by 2021. Visit the project timeline and subscribe to the newsletter to follow the journey.

Has this been successful anywhere else?

Yes. Other African countries like Senegal and Tunisia have passed their own startup bills.

How is this different from past attempts?

We are adopting a collaborative approach to drive this cause. We have tagged this collaborative framework the Big Tent approach, which in other words, means the bill is owned by the ecosystem. The process of engagement involves all relevant stakeholders in the startup ecosystem including the government (both at regional and federal levels, as well as across the legislative, executive and judiciary arms of government to develop and submit the bill to be signed into law. This is an initiative together with #i4Policy, and, is being supported by the Innovation for Policy Foundation, an organization working to increase public policy co-creation that has experience in facilitating the co-design of startup policy and legislative frameworks in more than a dozen African countries. We are also identifying existing laws/regulations and harmonising them into this bill. We are also using the bill as an opportunity to update existing but outdated laws.