NCAC, NITDA Collaborate to Launch BuyNigeria.ng Platform

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have announced a partnership to pilot BuyNigeria.ng, an e-commerce platform aimed at bringing Nigerian markets online and positioning Nigeria as a global leader in cultural and digital transformation.

This partnership represents a significant step toward integrating Nigeria’s cultural heritage with advanced digital innovation, unlocking new opportunities for the nation’s creative and digital economies

In a joint statement signed by Dr. Dennis Olofu, Head of Media at NCAC, and Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA, the initiative was described as a landmark collaboration to integrate Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) with its growing digital and innovation ecosystems.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

NCAC And NITDA Forge Strategic Alliance To Bridge Nigeria’s Cultural And Creative Industries pic.twitter.com/6JVYnccD4X

— NITDA Nigeria (@NITDANigeria) December 8, 2024

Strategic Focus

The initial phase will target markets in Kano, Lagos, Aba, and Abuja, enhancing visibility and accessibility for traders and artisans while promoting productivity in the cultural and creative sectors.

The statement highlighted a strategic meeting between NCAC’s Director-General, Mr. Obi Asika, and NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, to establish a collaborative framework. This alliance aims to drive innovation, growth, and digital transformation within Nigeria’s creative and cultural industries.

Also Read: NITDA, Education Ministry Collaborate on Incorporating Digital Literacy

Key Partnership Highlights

Expansion of ICE Programme: NCAC’s flagship ICE (Innovate, Create, Empower) programme, designed to upskill participants in cultural and creative industries, will be expanded nationwide with NITDA’s support. The goal is to reach 1,000 locations and train 2 million Nigerians by 2027.

Digital Platforms: NCAC is collaborating with private sector partners to develop platforms for cultural inventory, fan engagement, influencer marketing, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), e-commerce, and capacity building, with NITDA providing cloud services and distribution networks.

Digital Transformation Support: NITDA will equip NCAC’s headquarters and zonal offices with computers, digital labs, tablets, and podcast studios to support full digital transformation.

Joint Initiatives

A joint committee comprising directors from both agencies will oversee the partnership’s implementation. NCAC will also align its Nigeria’s Got Talent platform with NITDA’s digital literacy and gamified learning programs, fostering opportunities for creatives in a digitally advanced environment.