Hosting First Landmark GITEX Event In West Africa Falls On Nigeria’s Broad Shoulders
By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief
As a major step towards positioning Nigeria as a global technology hub where digital technology is leveraged upon to uplift the nation, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced its strategic partnership with KAOUN International to host the globally-renowned Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Nigeria.
According to a press statement on the event accessed by our correspondent, which has the e-signature of the Director of Corporate Communications& External Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar, this announcement was made at NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, north central, Nigeria, during the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) which comprises representatives from key public and private sector stakeholders, underscoring a unified national effort to deliver a world-class tech conference on Nigerian soil.
As per the NITDA statement, this maiden edition of the event which is themed “Forging the Rise of Digital Nigeria” is expected to have not less than 1000 startups, over 100 investors and an attendance of over 20,000 participants which would be held in Abuja and Lagos between 1st and 4th of September 2025.
It reads in part: “GITEX Nigeria is set to bring together global tech leaders, innovators, investors, startups, and policy makers, opening up new avenues for collaboration, investment, and technological exchange.
The event in Abuja will witness government leadership and AI summit to unite government leaders and global tech executives to drive national projects, including digital infrastructure expansion, AI adoption and public sector innovation while in Lagos, which is the commercial hub of the country, GITEX aims to spotlight the nation’s tech ecosystem, promoting startups, attracting investment, growth driving multi-sector economic diversification to a global audience.”
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi who was represented by the Director of the ITIS department, Olawumi Oladejo, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the milestone achievement and thanked everyone for all the effort they had been putting into the actualisation of the great event in Nigeria.
Mallam Abdullahi emphasized the potential impact of hosting such a prestigious event, stating that it would not only elevate Nigeria’s international profile but also boost local businesses, drive tourism, and provide a platform for innovation and partnerships.
“We all know the positive impact that hosting this kind of event will bring to the country. It will boost our international standing and scale our local businesses and tourism. This event is part of our way of implementing a major pillar, Forging Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027),” Abdullahi added.
According to the NITDA DG, the implementation of the GITEX Nigeria was in line with the 8-point agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinub, through the implementation of the agency’s SRAP.
Noting that the GITEX model had expanded to North Africa, specifically in Morocco, the NITDA boss asserted that Nigeria’s hosting of the event would mark its first footprint in West Africa.
While assuring the stakeholders of presidential backing for the initiative, Abdullahi concluded that “if we can successfully host this, it will open the door for Nigeria to lead digital transformation efforts across the region.”
In an overview of the GITEX Nigeria preparations, the Director of the Stakeholder Management and Partnerships department, Dr. Aristotle Onumo stated that the vision of the event was to elevate 6 local startups to global standards in 3 years.
Dr. Onumo added that the event would be anchored on 3 fulcrums; enablement, engagement, and knowledge to enhance growth in the Telecom, Fintech, Agritech, Edtech, e-Commerce, Healthtech as well as data centres in reinforcing data sovereignty and other sectors.
Speaking on the opportunities the event would bring in terms of boosting investments into the Nigerian Tech Ecosystem, Onumo noted that “78 per cent of startups are expecting to receive funds from investors as a result of their participation in GITEX.” -With additional reporting by Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
