The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have announced the signing of an agreement to launch BuyNigeria.ng, an e-commerce platform aimed at digitizing Nigerian markets.

This information was shared in a joint statement issued by Dr. Dennis Olofu, Head of Media at NCAC, and Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA.

The statement indicated that this initiative marks a significant partnership intended to merge Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) with the rapidly growing digital and innovation sectors in the country.

The initial phase will target markets in Kano, Lagos, Aba, and Abuja, enhancing visibility and accessibility for traders and artisans, while supporting NCAC’s goal of boosting productivity within the cultural and creative sectors, as noted in the statement.

Additionally, the Director-General of NCAC, Mr. Obi Asika, and his team engaged with NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, and his senior leadership team at NITDA's headquarters in Abuja to create a framework for collaboration.

This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to promote growth, innovation, and digital transformation within Nigeria’s creative and cultural sectors.

Another significant aspect of the partnership is the expansion of NCAC’s flagship ICE (Innovate, Create, Empower) program, which focuses on enhancing skills for individuals in the cultural and creative industries.

The statement further revealed that, with NITDA’s assistance, the ICE program will extend to 1,000 locations across the country, with a goal of training 2 million Nigerians by 2027.

Moreover, NITDA will provide training facilities and digital labs to amplify the program's effectiveness.

NCAC, in partnership with private sector stakeholders, is working on the development of digital platforms focused on cultural inventory, fan engagement, influencer marketing, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), e-commerce, and capacity building. NITDA will enhance these platforms by providing support through local distribution networks and cloud services. 

Furthermore, NCAC has officially sought NITDA’s assistance in outfitting its headquarters and zonal offices with computers, tablets, consumables, digital labs, and podcast studios to facilitate comprehensive digital transformation. 

The organizations stated that NCAC will engage its creative and cultural communities to take part in NITDA’s initiatives, including the much-anticipated GITEX Nigeria 2025.

A joint committee consisting of directors from both NCAC and NITDA has been formed to advance the partnership and facilitate the smooth execution of collaborative initiatives. 

Furthermore, NCAC’s Nigeria’s Got Talent platform will incorporate NITDA’s digital literacy programs and gamified learning systems, providing opportunities for creatives to flourish in a digitally enhanced setting. 

This collaboration represents a crucial advancement in merging Nigeria’s cultural heritage with state-of-the-art digital innovation, thereby unlocking vast potential for the country’s creative and digital sectors.