NCAC, NITDA launch BuyNigeria.ng to boost Nigeria’s digital transformation

Joy Agwunobi

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have entered into a strategic partnership to launch BuyNigeria.ng, an e-commerce platform designed to digitise Nigerian markets.

The collaboration was announced in a joint statement signed by Dennis Olofu, Head of Media at NCAC, and Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA.

This partnership aims to integrate Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) with the country’s growing digital and innovation ecosystems. According to the statement, the initial phase of the BuyNigeria.ng platform will focus on connecting traders and artisans in key markets across Kano, Lagos, Aba, and Abuja, fostering greater visibility and accessibility for local businesses.

“This aligns with NCAC’s vision of enhancing productivity in the cultural and creative sectors,” the statement highlighted.

The collaboration was formalised during a meeting between Obi Asika, DG of NCAC, and Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, along with senior officials from both organisations at NITDA headquarters in Abuja.

The statement described the partnership as a strategic alliance to foster growth, innovation, and digital transformation across Nigeria’s creative and cultural sectors.

One of the cornerstone initiatives of this partnership is the expansion of NCAC’s Innovate, Create, Empower (ICE) programme. With NITDA’s support, the programme will be scaled to reach 1,000 locations nationwide, targeting the training of 2 million Nigerians by 2027. NITDA will provide digital labs and training facilities to enhance the programme’s effectiveness.

In addition, NCAC is collaborating with private sector partners to develop various digital platforms focused on cultural inventory, fan engagement, influencer marketing, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), e-commerce, and capacity building. NITDA will support these platforms through local distribution networks and cloud services to enhance their reach and functionality.

As part of the agreement, NCAC formally requested NITDA’s assistance in equipping its headquarters and zonal offices with digital tools, including computers, tablets, podcast studios, and consumables, to facilitate a full digital transformation. The NCAC also plans to mobilise its creative and cultural communities to participate in NITDA initiatives such as GITEX Nigeria 2025, showcasing Nigeria’s digital and cultural innovations on a global stage.

Another notable aspect of the partnership is the integration of NITDA’s digital literacy programs and gamified learning systems into NCAC’s Nigeria’s Got Talent platform. This collaboration is expected to create new opportunities for Nigerian creatives to excel in a digitally driven environment.

To ensure smooth execution of the shared initiatives, a joint committee comprising directors from both NCAC and NITDA has been established. This committee will oversee the implementation of the partnership’s goals and strategies.