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Beware of the fraudulent ‘National Startup Investment Fund Programme’ – NITDA
“The attention of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been drawn to an Investment Fund Programme…
Nigerians have been reminded by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to be cautious of a phony website that requests applications and poses as the National Startup Investment Fund Programme.
According to the website, the allegedly overseeing agency for the program was the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Bank of Industry (BoI).
The website also displayed the Nigeria Startup Act, which President Buhari recently signed, in an effort to mislead many Nigerians by portraying the ‘program’ as the startup fund that the Act required the government to establish.
While denying any affiliation between the website and its well-regarded program and the federal government, NITDA issued a warning to Nigerians not to share any personal information there. Agency statement:
“The attention of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has been drawn to an Investment Fund Programme named “National Startup Investment Fund Programme“, accessible via (https://nationalstartupinvestmentfund.com) being purported to be from the federal government and requesting for individuals and startups in Nigeria to apply.
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“NITDA is hereby notifying the general public that the federal government has nothing to do with this program as being purported by the site. Additionally. NITDA advises the general public to avoid and desist from divulging personal information on this website and urges unsuspecting Nigerians to only visit official websites of government agencies to confirm the authenticity of any grant schemes or investment fund programs.”
President Buhari also gave his approval for the establishment of an N10 billion investment fund for young innovators, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, revealed in October when announcing the president’s signing of the Nigeria Startup Act. However, NITDA claims that the fund that the bogus website claims to represent has not been established.