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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its support for Startup South as the organisation seeks to connect Nigerian startups with funding, customers and business partnerships, following findings that more than half of applicants to its OffChart NXT Startup Challenge already have paying customers or revenue.

The 2026 challenge attracted 142 applicants, of whom 53.5 per cent reported early paying customers, a growing customer base, recurring revenue or rapid business growth. However, 66.2 per cent said they had never raised external funding, highlighting the financing challenges facing startups seeking to expand their operations.

Priye Itonyo, Regional Head of NITDA South-South, reaffirmed the agency’s support during a media briefing in Port Harcourt ahead of OffChart NXT, scheduled for October 22 and 23 at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Rivers State.

Itonyo said collaboration between government, private-sector organisations and technology entrepreneurs was essential to building a digital economy that creates jobs, improves living standards and addresses Nigeria’s development challenges.

He said NITDA’s support included raising awareness of the initiative and helping more Nigerians access platforms where they could develop ideas, build businesses and explore technology-driven opportunities.

Uche Aniche, founder of Startup South and convener of OffChart NXT, said the application figures showed that many founders were already building businesses with commercial potential but needed better access to capital and other resources to scale.

“What stands out is that these founders are not simply waiting for somebody to fund an idea. More than half are already reporting paying customers or stronger revenue signals, yet two in three have never raised external capital,” Aniche said.

He added that the challenge was an opportunity to connect businesses with funding, customers, technology, distribution channels and institutional relationships that could support their growth.

The application data also showed that startup activity extends beyond Nigeria’s traditional business centres. Of the 137 applications from Nigerian startups for which a state could be identified, 76.6 per cent came from outside Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Imo and Akwa Ibom were among the states represented, reflecting the spread of entrepreneurial activity across the South and other parts of the country.

Agriculture and agritech accounted for 24 applications, followed by education and edtech with 19, and health and healthtech with 15. Together, the three sectors represented 40.8 per cent of the application pipeline, while financial services and fintech recorded 10 applications.

Aniche said Startup South was interested in innovation across multiple industries, including opportunities to apply technology to the energy sector, given the South-South region’s importance to Nigeria’s oil and gas economy.

To support participating startups, Startup South has mobilised approximately ₦13 million in prize money for the challenge. The competition has two principal categories: Early Traction, with a stated ₦5 million grand prize, and Early Growth, with a stated ₦10 million grand prize. An additional ₦2 million Community Prize will be determined through public voting.

According to Aniche, shortlisted founders have undergone approximately three weeks of training ahead of the pitch sessions.

Payment technology company FaceTag has contributed ₦3 million to the prize pool and is offering the two top-performing startups three months of free transaction fees on its platform. The offer could help the selected businesses reduce payment-processing costs during the period.

Beyond the competition, OffChart NXT will feature a deal room designed to connect founders with corporate organisations and potential business partners. Organisers are matching companies with startups whose products and services align with their business needs.

The meetings are intended to create opportunities for commercial contracts, partnerships, mentorship and other forms of support. Aniche said the deal room was not limited to investment, as corporate customers and industry relationships could also help startups grow their businesses.

Founders who missed the initial application and training process may also be able to pitch through the White Card Pathway, subject to the organisers’ participation requirements.

The conference is expected to attract representatives from Nokia, LemFi and Renaissance Africa Energy, alongside professional associations and government officials. The organisers also expect participation from the Rivers State Government.

Itonyo also reiterated Nigeria’s digital literacy targets of 75 per cent by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2031. He said NITDA was working with institutions, training providers and other stakeholders to expand digital skills programmes and help more Nigerians participate in the digital economy.

Aniche said one of Startup South’s long-term goals was to improve Port Harcourt’s position in global startup ecosystem rankings and help other cities in the South-South gain greater recognition. He noted that Port Harcourt already featured in StartupBlink’s rankings and said the organisation wanted to improve the city’s position while supporting more cities in the region to work towards the global top 100.

For Startup South, OffChart NXT is intended to bring emerging businesses into greater visibility and connect founders with resources, customers and partnerships that can support expansion. The two-day event will hold on October 22 and 23 in Port Harcourt.

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