The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Alami Capital, in strategic
collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), today announced the debut of The LaunchPad at GITEX Nigeria 2025, a first-of-its-kind investment and venture-building platform dedicated to scaling Africa’s most promising women-led startups.
While women own 27% of businesses in Africa and contribute 13% of GDP, they receive just 7% of total venture capital funding. The LaunchPad is a structural market intervention designed to correct one of the continent’s most persistent innovation gaps: the under-capitalisation of women-owned startups.
“Who gets funded determines what gets built, and what gets built will define the economic future of Africa,” said Kashifu
Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA. “The LaunchPad ensures women founders are not just part of the conversation but central to Africa’s innovation economy. Closing this funding gap for women is not charity, it’s one of the smartest bets we can make for Africa’s future.”
Following GITEX Nigeria, The LaunchPad will deploy $250,000 in catalytic capital to 5 selected ventures, offering not only funding but regulatory readiness, mentorship, and deep ecosystem alignment to position them for long-term growth.
Additional Touchpoints at GITEX Nigeria 2025:
1. Funding Pavilion – Exhibiting high-potential, women-owned ventures in tech, the creative economy, and impact
sectors.
2. Fireside for Scale – A high-level dialogue with African CEOs and global investors on market expansion and IPO
readiness.
3. Capital Readiness Clinics – Investor “office hours” for women founders preparing for capital engagement.
4. ‘To the Stars’ Bell Activation – A ceremonial bell-ringing with the SEC and women founders, symbolising the rise of African women in Africa’s capital markets.
The LaunchPad joins a select global league of women-focused investment initiatives, but unlike grant-only models such as the Cartier Women’s Initiative or short-term accelerators, it offers equity investment, regulatory de-risking, and a continuous pathway to scale.
“As an investor, I witness the economics of exclusion every day. This is about building a vetted, investable pipeline of women-led ventures grounded in institutional rigor,” said Amina Oyagbola, Founding Partner at Alami Capital. “Our mission is to shift capital flows, transform investment behavior, and unlock Africa’s full innovation potential.
About GITEX Nigeria
GITEX Nigeria is the country’s premier technology event, bringing together government, investors, corporates, and startups for four days of conferences, exhibitions, and deal-making.
For more information, visit: gitexnigeria.ng
About NITDA
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is Nigeria’s lead agency for driving the country’s digital transformation. Under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA develops policies, fosters innovation, and accelerates the growth of Nigeria’s information technology sector.
For more information, visit nitda.gov.ng
About Alami Capital
Alami Capital is an investment and advisory firm dedicated to building scalable African enterprises. In partnership with NITDA and the SEC, it created The LaunchPad to connect women-led startups to catalytic capital, regulatory readiness, and a global ecosystem for scale.
For more information, visit alami.capital/launchpad
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