Nigeria taps research to help innovators identify technology market gaps

Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, says the initiative is part of efforts to build a globally competitive innovation ecosystem by providing evidence-based insights that can guide innovators, investors and policymakers.

Speaking at Tech Outlook 2027 held in Lagos by the SATH Foundation in partnership with the federal technology agency, Inuwa explains that Nigeria needs reliable data and research to identify problems requiring technological solutions rather than relying on assumptions about market needs.

He identifies sectors such as manufacturing, finance, agriculture and healthcare as areas where technology could be deployed to improve operations and address existing challenges. “And our objective is not to build more technology companies, but to get technology helping our entire economy,” Inuwa says.

“Innovators can take their research to know where there are gaps, where we need innovative solutions to solve real life problems,” Inuwa says.

He says the objective is to make research findings useful to different stakeholders across the technology ecosystem, enabling innovators to develop solutions that address actual challenges while helping investors identify opportunities for funding.

The broader objective, according to the NITDA director-general, is not simply to increase the number of technology companies operating in Nigeria, but to ensure that technology improves productivity and efficiency across the economy.

He identifies sectors such as manufacturing, finance, agriculture and healthcare as areas where technology could be deployed to improve operations and address existing challenges. “And our objective is not to build more technology companies, but to get technology helping our entire economy,” Inuwa says.

The initiative is also intended to provide the government with information that can guide policy responses and support the development of Nigeria’s technology industry.

Inuwa argues that countries seeking to establish competitive advantages in the global economy must invest in research and ensure that findings are translated into practical outcomes.

“So for us to really succeed as a nation, we should stop guessing things. We should do deep research, have insight and data,” he says.

He notes that Nigeria already has universities and researchers conducting studies, but the findings do not always translate into industrial applications.

The proposed approach seeks to strengthen the connection between academia and industry, allowing businesses to use research findings to develop products and services, while investors can use the resulting insights to identify viable opportunities.

As part of the research effort presented at Tech Outlook 2027, NITDA is examining five sectors: financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, government services, and healthcare.

Inuwa says the research involves engagement with industry stakeholders, technology providers and members of the public to understand existing technology gaps and the services people want to use.

In the healthcare sector, he says the agency interviewed more than 2,100 people described as industry experts and surveyed 539 managers of primary healthcare centres across Nigeria’s 36 states.

The findings presented by Inuwa indicate a gap between interest in digital healthcare services and actual adoption.

He says 80.4% of adults interviewed for the healthcare research expressed interest in using telemedicine services, while 19.3% had used such services.

The findings could help investors and innovators assess demand for digital health solutions and identify barriers that need to be addressed before new products are developed.

Inuwa says the research is intended to provide the information required to direct investment towards areas where demand exists and technology could address unmet needs.

The agency is also examining commerce and trade, where Inuwa identifies consumer trust as a challenge affecting online transactions.

He says the research found that 25% of providers sell online, while fewer than 16% of consumers buy online, attributing the gap to a lack of trust.

The findings, he argues, point to opportunities for solutions that improve digital trust and governance, potentially helping businesses and consumers participate more confidently in e-commerce.

Collins Onuegbu, chairman of Signal Alliance Technology Holding, says private technology companies also have a role to play in shaping the industry’s development beyond their commercial interests. “Going forward, we want to be involved in helping shape the industry, not just making money for our business, but helping shape the industry,” Onuegbu says.

The effort comes amid a broader push to connect research, investment and practical innovation in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

Collins Onuegbu, chairman of Signal Alliance Technology Holding, says private technology companies also have a role to play in shaping the industry’s development beyond their commercial interests.

“Going forward, we want to be involved in helping shape the industry, not just making money for our business, but helping shape the industry,” Onuegbu says.

His remarks highlight the potential role of partnerships between technology companies, academic institutions and regulators in supporting research and translating findings into practical applications.

For NITDA, the challenge is to ensure that research produces information stakeholders can use to make decisions about product development, investment and policy. By identifying gaps before solutions are built, the agency aims to encourage a more evidence-based approach to innovation, where technological development is informed by demonstrated needs rather than assumptions.

However, the extent to which the initiative achieves this objective will depend on the accessibility of its findings, the willingness of businesses to adopt research outcomes and the ability of innovators to turn identified problems into affordable, practical solutions.

Details of the full research methodology, the publication timeline for the findings and specific mechanisms for connecting innovators with the research have not been provided in the speech.

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