The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) says Nigerian software developers have recorded major milestones, with locally developed applications generating more than one million dollars in sales across domestic and regional markets.
The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr Obiageli Amadiobi, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Abuja.
Amadiobi said the achievement reflects the growing strength of Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and demonstrates how local innovation is driving digital growth.
She attributed the progress to targeted support initiatives implemented by NOTAP to build developers’ capacity, protect intellectual property and link innovators to market opportunities.
According to her, the journey from idea to commercial success often begins with understanding and securing intellectual property (IP) rights, a critical step many local innovators previously overlooked.
“Whether it is a literary work, a laboratory invention or a creative digital product, bringing an idea to life requires time, skill and dedication.
“An innovator who develops a solution to a pressing problem has a fundamental right to patent that creation and claim ownership. Without protection, others could replicate the work, patent it and take control of what was built with Nigerian ingenuity,” she said.
Amadiobi noted that the challenge is worsened by widespread digital piracy and counterfeiting, which she said affects the ICT sector the most.
She explained that copied software applications and unauthorized duplication of digital content on social media platforms have become major obstacles to growth for local developers.
“We see talented young innovators create unique digital tools or content, only to watch others rebrand and profit from their work within weeks,” she said.
The NOTAP boss said many online creators with distinctive digital styles were often unaware that their original contributions could be protected through IP registration.
To address these gaps and unlock the value of local innovation, she said NOTAP introduced a multi-pronged strategy, with the Local Vendor Policy serving as a key initiative.
She explained that the policy requires foreign technology firms operating in Nigeria to partner with local vendors and allocate part of their technical service fees to domestic partners.
Amadiobi said some of the successful applications developed under the initiative address critical local needs, including a mobile health platform serving about 750,000 users across six states.
She added that other solutions include an agricultural marketplace linking smallholder farmers to buyers, and an educational platform adopted by about 200 schools to improve learning outcomes.
According to her, the apps were developed by teams that benefited from skills development and resources provided through NOTAP’s Local Vendor Policy.
“Three years ago, many of these developers were providing only support services to foreign companies. Today, they are building products that compete globally.
“About 60 per cent of last year’s sales came from other African countries, showing that Nigerian developers can lead innovation on the continent,” she said.
Amadiobi explained that the one million-dollar revenue figure was generated from more than 50 locally developed applications, with individual developers earning between 5,000 dollars and 80,000 dollars from their products.
She said NOTAP plans to double the sales figures by 2027, with expanded support for developers working in fintech, renewable energy management and climate adaptation technologies.
“These sectors present high-growth opportunities for Nigerian innovation,” she said.
