The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with TikTok to launch a Digital Commerce Lab for SMEs in Lagos, backed by a $20,000 pilot ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programme,.
The agency disclosed this on Saturday, noting that the partnership is part of efforts to extend digital skills training to entrepreneurs in remote and underserved communities across Nigeria.
NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, attended the launch and described the move as a major step toward equipping Nigerian entrepreneurs with the digital skills needed to compete in the modern economy.
What NITDA is saying
According to a statement by NITDA, Onumo said the shift toward digital commerce is no longer optional for Nigerian SMEs, framing platform adoption as essential to their long-term survival and growth.
- “The future of commerce is digital. SMEs must leverage platforms to access new markets, increase productivity, and drive growth,” he said.
The agency also explained that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that Nigerian businesses, regardless of size, have the digital tools and opportunities needed to participate successfully in the global marketplace.
- “Together, we are building a digitally inclusive Nigeria where every business can compete globally,” the agency reiterated.
More insights
A key highlight of the launch was the announcement of the $20,000 pilot “Train-the-Trainer” programme, under which NITDA’s DL4ALL network will deliver practical digital commerce training, training materials, and facilitator guides to SMEs nationwide.
- The programme is specifically designed to reach SMEs in remote and underserved communities that have historically had limited access to formal digital skills training.
- The partnership positions TikTok as a direct collaborator in NITDA’s broader digital literacy push, joining a growing list of public and private sector partnerships the agency has formed in recent months to expand digital inclusion across the country.
What you should know
The TikTok partnership adds to NITDA’s expanding portfolio of digital economy initiatives aimed at equipping Nigerians with in-demand digital skills and improving their participation in the global digital economy.
Earlier this month, Nairametrics reported that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission to advance digital skills development and strengthen innovation infrastructure across the six states of Southwest Nigeria.
NITDA announced the partnership in a statement issued on June 11. The agreement, signed by the leadership of both organisations, seeks to bridge national technology policy with regional implementation to accelerate digital transformation efforts.
Under the partnership, both institutions will leverage their resources and expertise to develop a coordinated framework for expanding digital capacity, fostering innovation, and driving technology-led growth across the Southwest region.
