Nigerian delegation rallies global support ahead of GITEX Nigeria 2025, highlights tech growth and opportunities

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October 15, 2024
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2 min read

Ahead of the highly anticipated GITEX Nigeria in September 2025, key representatives from the Lagos State government, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigerian House of Assembly are rallying support for the event. 

Speaking at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Nigerian delegation on the sidelines of GITEX Global, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi reassured attendees that comprehensive plans are being put in place to ensure the success of the upcoming event.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a pro-business president, and he has mandated our ministry to accelerate the Nigerian economic growth by enhancing productivity in critical sectors through technological innovation.”

Highlighting some key initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, he noted that the ministry's strategy is anchored on five pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital and trade

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One notable initiative, the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme, is already in motion. This program aims to equip 3 million Nigerians with digital skills, leveraging local startups to provide training nationwide. The goal is to position these individuals for employment with businesses both within Nigeria and globally.

“We are in a knowledge-based economy, and knowledge is the foundation upon which nations build a robust and sustainable economy. I’m aware you know that by 2030, there would be a global talent crunch that, if left unaddressed, could lead to $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual value, and Nigeria is ready to bridge that gap,” Inuwa shared.

Inuwa also urged partners to collaborate in expanding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, emphasising that despite missing out on the first and second industrial revolutions, Nigeria is now well-positioned to harness the opportunities presented by modern technology. 

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Addressing concerns about the ease of doing business in the country, Inuwa acknowledged the high risks but emphasised that the potential rewards far outweigh the challenges.

“When Mo Ibrahim decided to invest in African telecommunication, people were laughing at him—serious people. Nobody wanted to give him a loan. Within six years, he expanded Celtel to 13 African countries, and he was generating over $600 million in revenue.”

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Similarly, the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, who led a delegation of Lagos-based startups, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to bring GITEX to Nigeria. He urged those in attendance to seize the unique opportunities that Lagos offers, highlighting the state’s growing role as a hub for innovation and technology.

“Lagos is the fifth or sixth largest economy in Africa if it were a country on its own, and 80 to 90% of the startup ecosystem resides in Lagos. The partnership with GITEX and the formulation of the GITEX Nigeria program gives you an opportunity to come and see the growth that has been happening in our ecosystem over the last four years,” he noted. 

Other members of the Nigerian delegation who spoke at the breakfast meeting include Vincent Olatunji, CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and Adedeji Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT and Cybercrime. 

“We are willing to do what it takes for the global market to see Nigeria as a very friendly place to do business,” Olajide said.

Accidental writer, covering Africa's startup landscape and its heroes. Find me on Twitter @chigo_nwokoma.
Accidental writer, covering Africa's startup landscape and its heroes. Find me on Twitter @chigo_nwokoma.
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Accidental writer, covering Africa's startup landscape and its heroes. Find me on Twitter @chigo_nwokoma.
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