All roads in Africa lead to GITEX Nigeria
The successful debut of GITEX Africa in 2023, which showcased Africa as an emerging hub of the digital economy, laid the foundation for future projects like GITEX Nigeria.
At the announcement, Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of KAOUN International (the organizer of GITEX), explained the reasons for choosing Nigeria. “All roads in Africa lead to Nigeria,” she said. “You can’t talk about technology in Africa and ignore Nigeria.”
Trixie emphasized that GITEX’s mission is not just about hosting events, but about creating stronger ecosystems. “We’re not interested in creating events. We want to work with governments to create pathways that connect local technology ecosystems to the global stage – especially in the age of AI,” she said.
She emphasized that startups and SMEs cannot operate in isolation to grow successfully. Even the best products need market exposure and visibility. “GITEX Nigeria provides companies with the opportunity to compare ideas, network globally, and encourage governments and stakeholders to implement the necessary policies to grow the technology ecosystem,” she said.
Government Support Promotes Innovation Across All Sectors
At the heart of the GITEX Nigeria initiative is strong government support, particularly under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria’s IT regulator, was instrumental in bringing GITEX to Nigeria.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA, emphasized the importance of the event, stressing that GITEX Nigeria will help foster innovation in the country. Fintech is a prominent success story—Nigeria’s financial services sector is among the most advanced in the world—but innovation is also expected to be fostered in education, agriculture, healthcare, and beyond.
“Bringing GITEX to Nigeria will enhance productivity in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology, and create a platform to showcase Nigerian innovations on a global scale,” he told Business Insider Africa. This reflects the government’s commitment to harnessing technology for development beyond the oil sector.
“The idea of innovation is about democratizing access to technology and disrupting the status quo,” the NITDA Chairman said. “The role of government is to create policies and regulations that open up access to technology and support the ecosystem.”
Creating a Clear Path for Africa’s Future
Trixie described GITEX Nigeria as part of a larger vision to close a gap in the global technology landscape: the lack of connectivity between policy, innovation, and growth opportunities for emerging economies.
“We want to provide startups, SMEs, and technology companies with a clear path to funding, opportunities, and growth,” she said. GITEX Nigeria aims to close this gap by connecting the local ecosystem with international investors, corporate partners, and global technology leaders.
By working closely with the Nigerian government and key stakeholders like NITDA, GITEX aims to ensure that innovation in Nigeria not only flourishes locally but is also recognized internationally.
