The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is inviting investors, venture capital firms, and financial institutions to explore opportunities in Nigerian technology startups at the 2026 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE). At the heart of this year’s event is the Builders Festival, a programme designed to connect startups with institutions that need technology solutions to real business and public-sector problems. The festival takes place from November 10 to 12, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
What Is the Builders Festival?
The Builders Festival is more than a typical startup showcase. It is an innovation zone where Nigeria’s toughest challenges meet its smartest builders. NITDA is organising the programme in partnership with Tech Revolution Africa, with a target investment and pilot-contract pipeline of ₦3 billion. The initiative aims to move startup funding discussions beyond presentations and business proposals. Instead, it connects investors with companies that already have products designed to solve identified problems.
Dr. Aristotle Onumo, NITDA’s Director of Special Duties, explained the vision behind the programme. “Our objective at NITDA is to foster an environment where local innovation directly services institutional needs. The DNICE Builders Festival bridges the historic disconnect between large-scale public or private enterprises and our domestic tech ecosystem”.
How the Builders Festival Works
The programme differs from conventional startup showcases by beginning with the problem rather than the pitch. Participating institutions submit specific operational or technology challenges, after which startups with relevant products are identified and matched with those organisations. The official Builders Festival platform currently lists more than 50 institutional challenges.
According to the organisers, the Builders Festival will match startups with institutions seeking technology-driven solutions to operational and structural challenges. Selected founders will have opportunities to pitch their products, enter a deal room, and pursue investment and deployment opportunities. The matched teams will then meet in a live Deal Room at DNICE 2026 to discuss pilot commitments and potential partnerships.
Who Should Apply
The Builders Festival will prioritise Nigerian-registered startups that have developed a minimum viable product and demonstrated some level of market traction. Eligible businesses must have at least one active user, an ongoing pilot, or a paying customer. Applications will be assessed based on market traction, team resilience, and product maturity.
This approach is intended to identify businesses with practical solutions that can move towards deployment rather than projects that remain at the idea stage. The programme covers startups developing solutions across sectors including healthcare, education technology, logistics, supply chain, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data, agricultural technology, connectivity, financial technology, and e-governance.
The Opportunities at Stake
The Builders Festival aims to facilitate a pipeline of investment and pilot contracts valued at ₦3 billion. The opportunity includes potential venture capital, angel investment, and other forms of funding. Beyond investment, participating startups will gain access to potential customers and institutions that could deploy their products.
The organisers’ broader targets include more than 100 business deals, 150 participating institutions, and over 500 investors, ecosystem leaders, executives, and partners. Participating institutions named by the organisers include the National Population Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited, Stanbic IBTC, and eHealth Africa. Their areas of interest cover digital identity, cargo monitoring, financial services, healthcare systems, telecommunications, and data management.
Significance for Nigerian Founders
Glory Olamigoke, Co-founder of Tech Revolution Africa, has described the problem the festival addresses as a coordination gap between institutions and technology builders. “Africa does not suffer from a shortage of technical talent; it suffers from a coordination gap between complex, systemic problems and the builders who can solve them,” she said. The programme is therefore designed to shorten the distance between a startup having a product and an institution having a reason to buy it.
This initiative represents a shift from the conventional hackathon model. Instead of building technology without confirmed demand, participating companies can demonstrate how their existing solutions address specific institutional requirements. The programme is also expected to provide selected founders with access to masterclasses covering product development, engineering, and go-to-market strategy.
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Key Details at a Glance
DNICE 2026, which includes the Builders Festival, will hold from November 10 to 12, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. Startups that already have a product in the market can apply through the official Builders Festival application portal.
The 2025 edition of DNICE demonstrated Nigeria’s readiness to move from policy articulation to implementation and ecosystem execution. DNICE 2026 shifts from “conversation” to “delivery” by mobilising stakeholders around trusted, secure, and inclusive systems that impact governance and growth. For African startups and innovators, the Builders Festival at DNICE 2026 offers a rare opportunity to turn real solutions into real deals.
