The National Information Technology Development Agency and Tech Revolution Africa have called on Nigerian technology startups with existing solutions to apply for the 2026 DNICE Builders Festival, an initiative designed to connect technology companies with institutions seeking solutions to operational challenges.

The Builders Festival, organised as part of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, is built around a problem and solution matching model. Rather than asking startups to develop ideas around hypothetical problems, the programme provides access to challenges already identified by government agencies, financial institutions and other organisations.

According to the organisers, participating startups will be matched with institutions whose challenges align with their existing products, with selected teams given opportunities to demonstrate their solutions and enter discussions around deployment, contracts and investment.

“The opportunity before Nigerian startups is not simply to build more products, but to build solutions that respond to real problems and can create measurable impact across our institutions and industries.” Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, NITDA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, said.

The programme currently features challenges covering areas including digital identity, telecommunications infrastructure, supply chain compliance, financial technology, health technology, education and smart infrastructure.

Among the challenges published by the organisers are digital transformation of civil registration and population data management, monitoring of transit cargo, artificial intelligence-enabled customs risk profiling, satellite connectivity, SME financing, patient identity management and vaccine supply chain visibility.

Co-founder of Tech Revolution Africa, Glory Olamigoke, said the initiative was created to address the disconnect between institutions with pressing problems and technology companies capable of solving them.

“Africa does not suffer from a shortage of technical talent; it suffers from a coordination gap,” Olamigoke said.

He explained that the programme would provide a structured pathway for institutions to identify suitable technology providers while giving startups an opportunity to move beyond building products to securing real deployments.

The organisers said the programme is targeted at Nigerian-registered startups at the minimum viable product stage or beyond. Applicants are expected to have at least one live user, an active pilot or a paying client.

Startups will be assessed on market traction, team resilience and product maturity. The organisers have also made clear that idea-stage businesses without a product are not eligible, with preference given to solutions that are ready for deployment.

The distinction is central to the festival’s approach. Startups are not being asked simply to demonstrate what they could build. They are expected to show how what they have already built can address a problem faced by an institution.

Successful applicants will be matched with participating organisations before the live Deal Room sessions at DNICE 2026, where the parties can discuss pilot projects, commercial arrangements and other forms of collaboration.

The Builders Festival is targeting a ₦3 billion funding and pilot contract pipeline and is expected to bring together startups, investors, institutions and other technology ecosystem participants.

The 2026 DNICE conference will take place from November 10 to 12 at the BAT International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Startups interested in participating can submit their applications through the official Builders Festival startup application page.