National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and TikTok have launched a strategic partnership aimed at equipping Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with digital commerce skills, tools, and opportunities to compete effectively in the digital economy.

NITDA

The partnership was unveiled at the launch of the TikTok Digital Commerce Labs Programme for SMEs, held in Lagos, where stakeholders from government, the private sector, entrepreneurship support organisations, and the digital ecosystem gathered to explore innovative pathways for empowering Nigerian businesses through technology.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, represent at the event by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director Stakeholder Management and Partnerships,  described digital commerce as one of the most powerful drivers of economic inclusion and business growth in the modern economy, noting that access to digital skills has become increasingly critical for the survival and competitiveness of businesses.

According to the NITDA boss, the future of commerce is increasingly digital, and entrepreneurs who embrace technology will be better positioned to access larger markets, increase productivity, and create sustainable wealth.

He observed that while Nigeria is blessed with millions of hardworking and innovative entrepreneurs, many small businesses still lack the digital capabilities required to fully participate in the opportunities offered by the digital economy.

“Today, a young entrepreneur with a smartphone can reach customers beyond geographical boundaries, build a brand, market products globally, and create economic opportunities that were previously unimaginable. Our responsibility is to ensure that every entrepreneur, regardless of location, has access to the digital skills and tools needed to succeed in this new economy,” he said.

A major highlight of the event was the announcement of a collaborative programme between NITDA and TikTok designed to extend digital commerce training to SMEs across the country.

As part of the initiative, TikTok has committed an initial investment of approximately US$20,000 to support a pilot Train-the-Trainer Programme, which will leverage NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) networks to deliver digital commerce training to entrepreneurs, particularly those in remote and underserved communities.

Inuwa commended TikTok for its commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and digital inclusion in Nigeria, describing the initiative as a practical example of how technology platforms can contribute meaningfully to economic empowerment and national development.

He noted that the collaboration aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly the Agency’s commitment to achieving widespread digital literacy, promoting innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and fostering inclusive economic growth.

The DG stressed that technology should not merely be viewed as a tool for communication and entertainment but as a platform for creating opportunities, generating income, and transforming lives.

“Technology is most powerful when it empowers the least connected, creates opportunities for the underserved, and transforms potential into prosperity,” he stated.

Industry stakeholders at the event described the initiative as timely, especially at a period when businesses are increasingly leveraging digital platforms to connect with customers, expand operations, and access new markets.

The TikTok Digital Commerce Labs Programme is expected to strengthen digital capabilities among SMEs, improve access to digital opportunities, and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy by enabling entrepreneurs to harness the power of technology for business development.

The launch reinforces NITDA’s vision to building a digitally empowered Nation fostering inclusive economic development through technological innovation where individuals, startups, and businesses can leverage technology to create value, generate employment, and contribute to national prosperity.

As Nigeria continues its journey towards becoming a leading digital economy in Africa, collaborations such as the NITDA-TikTok partnership are expected to play a significant role in empowering citizens, fostering innovation, and expanding economic opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

Mobile technologies and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of GDP, according to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report.

The sector also supported approximately 13 million jobs and generated $45 billion in public revenues, underlining the growing role of mobile connectivity in powering economic growth, innovation and digital transformation across the continent.

The report finds that Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase of development. Having spent the last decade expanding connectivity, operators are increasingly focused on unlocking the full value of digital networks for consumers, businesses and governments.

Across the continent, operators are evolving beyond their traditional role as connectivity providers to become digital transformation partners, deploying artificial intelligence (AI), expanding digital services and opening network capabilities to developers through standardised APIs. According to GSMA Intelligence research, 79% of operators in Africa identify becoming a digital transformation partner as a primary enterprise objective.

By 2030, mobile technologies and services are expected to contribute $290 billion to Africa’s economy as digital adoption deepens and connectivity continues to support productivity, innovation and economic development across the region. Today Africa’s digital challenge has shifted from expanding network coverage to ensuring people, businesses and governments can fully benefit from the connectivity already in place.

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: “Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase of development. Having connected millions of people and businesses over the last decade, the focus is increasingly shifting towards unlocking greater value through AI, digital services and new forms of innovation.

Realising this opportunity will require continued investment, policies that encourage innovation and a shared commitment to ensuring that everyone can benefit from the opportunities digital technologies create.

“We also call on the broader technology supply chain – including those who manufacture the components that make devices possible – to reflect on how their own success is tied to a connected world, and to join us in closing the usage gap and making that world more accessible and affordable for all.”

Across the continent, operators are increasingly deploying AI to improve network performance, strengthen customer experiences and support new digital services.

However, Africa is home to more than 30% of the world’s languages, while today’s leading AI models remain predominantly trained on English and other high-resource languages.

Through initiatives such as the GSMA’s “AI language models in Africa, by Africa, for Africa” programme, industry stakeholders are working to strengthen the data, compute, talent and policy foundations needed for African-led AI development.

The report also highlights growing momentum behind GSMA Open Gateway, which enables operators to provide standardised network APIs to developers and enterprises. These capabilities are helping unlock new digital services while supporting fraud prevention, identity verification and digital trust across sectors including financial services, e-commerce and digital government.

Policy choices will play a critical role in determining whether Africa can fully capture this next wave of digital growth. Investment incentives, spectrum availability, affordability measures and regulatory certainty will all influence the pace of innovation, digital adoption and infrastructure deployment across the continent.

Despite this progress, the report warns that Africa’s greatest digital challenge is no longer network coverage, but adoption. While mobile broadband networks now cover the vast majority of the population, approximately 63% of Africans live within coverage but are not using mobile internet. By comparison, only 9% remain outside mobile broadband coverage.

Affordability remains the single largest barrier to mobile internet adoption across much of the continent, alongside digital skills gaps and other social barriers. The report highlights the importance of initiatives aimed at improving device affordability, expanding digital skills and creating a more inclusive digital ecosystem.

To support the next phase of digital growth, the GSMA is calling for policies that encourage investment, improve affordability and accelerate digital adoption. Mobile operators across Africa are expected to invest over $76 billion in network infrastructure between 2024 and 2030.

Evidence from several African markets also demonstrates that reducing taxes on devices and digital services can help accelerate adoption and expand access to the benefits of the digital economy.

Key findings from the Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report:

• Mobile technologies and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of GDP.

• Mobile’s economic contribution is forecast to reach $290 billion by 2030.

• The mobile ecosystem supported approximately 13 million jobs in 2025.

• The sector generated $45 billion in public revenues.

• Mobile operators are expected to invest over $76 billion in network infrastructure between 2024 and 2030.

• Approximately 63% of Africans live within mobile broadband coverage but are not using mobile internet, compared with a coverage gap of 9%.

• 5G adoption is expected to reach 21% of total mobile connections by 2030.