Nigeria’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment has launched a new plan to help digital service providers expand across Africa. The goal is to support Nigerian tech businesses looking to enter other African markets. To kick things off, the ministry is asking local digital service providers to fill out a survey. This form allows them to share what their businesses do and which countries they hope to expand to.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the move is about simplifying how digital trade works across borders. “Nigeria is, therefore, championing digital trade services and is pioneering a simple, clear framework that both businesses and governments can understand,” she stated.
Many Nigerian businesses face challenges when they try to enter new markets. These include unclear rules and confusion about how their services should be registered. This is especially hard for digital services, which don’t always fit into traditional trade categories.
The new initiative will map Nigeria’s digital businesses and the markets they want to access. This database will guide the government in focusing trade talks on the countries Nigerian companies are most interested.
“This is like creating a common language that helps everyone to get on the same page,” Oduwole added.
She said the plan will help unlock new markets and boost Nigeria’s position in Africa’s growing digital economy. It’s also about making sure Nigeria leads in shaping future trade rules instead of just following them.
Nigeria’s tech scene is no stranger to success. Companies like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Interswitch already operate in several African countries. However, for many startups, expansion remains difficult because of licensing delays and unclear regulations.
With this new plan, the Ministry hopes to change that. Nigerian digital providers can now share their needs directly with the government through the survey. This will help the country better support its tech industry and push for fair access in other African countries.
By creating a clear roadmap for expansion, Nigeria is showing that it wants to lead, not just in innovation, but also in how tech companies grow across Africa.
