Key players in Nigeria’s innovation and investment ecosystem recently convened in Lagos for a Venture Capital Roundtable aimed at strengthening local financing within the country’s evolving policy landscape.
The session, hosted by the American Business Council Nigeria at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) office in Lagos, brought together representatives from government, venture capital firms, startups, and regulatory bodies to discuss pathways for improving access to funding for innovation-driven businesses.
Strategic marketing and communications professional Motunrayo Ayo-Akwe, who facilitated the session, described the engagement as a rare alignment of stakeholders who, despite differing perspectives, share a common goal of promoting innovation, ensuring business sustainability, and driving profitability across the ecosystem.
The roundtable focused on the theme “Driving Local Financing in an Evolving Policy Landscape,” with discussions centering on how Nigeria can deepen domestic capital participation in venture funding, improve regulatory clarity, and build stronger trust between investors and policymakers.
Participants noted that while there were varying viewpoints on sequencing and implementation strategies, there was broad agreement on the need to expand access to local financing as a catalyst for innovation and startup growth in Africa’s largest economy.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of structured dialogue formats such as roundtables, which allow for open engagement among stakeholders and help translate policy conversations into actionable outcomes.
Observers at the event noted that such engagements are increasingly important as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its technology ecosystem, attract investment, and position itself as a leading hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship on the continent.