Tech Leaders Offer Support To Nigeria’s $1 Trillion GDP Target Through Digital Economy
By ZAKA KHALIQ
GLOBAL tech leaders, including IBM, Meta, and MTN, have joined forces with GITEX Nigeria 2025 to drive tech opportunities that contribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $1 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) economic target through the digital economy.
Nigeria has risen to the forefront of Africa’s digital economy with a powerful ecosystem that is both homegrown and resilient. Fuelled by government initiatives, global tech enterprises, and a thriving startup ecosystem, Nigeria’s future is propelled with tech opportunities in talent development and digital infrastructure to help achieve the goal of a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.
Central to Nigeria and Africa’s ambitions of digital sovereignty lies the opportunity to upskill, operate and expand grassroots talent and organisations.
Perfectly timed to support these ambitions is the inaugural edition of GITEX Nigeria, which will act as a convergence point for key local and international decision makers, not only in tech but across multiple sectors embracing digital transformation.
GITEX Nigeria premieres across Abuja and Lagos from 1 to 4 September 2025 as it is supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as the event is endorsed by the Lagos State government, and organised by KAOUN International, the global organiser of GITEX events.
A high-level government leadership and AI Summit in Abuja will take place on the opening day, 1 September, to forge a united future for international leaders who are driving the growth of digital infrastructure, AI, and innovation.
Speaking about the event, the minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said: “Building and deploying AI infrastructure and solutions for Nigeria and Africa is not only a technological advancement, but also a chance to redefine our place in the global digital economy. Our success in delivering on this will ensure that we evolve from being passive consumers of AI to becoming net producers of talent and solutions that can compete and thrive internationally.”
As the global tech community turns its attention to Nigeria at GITEX Nigeria, he added, “We must seize this opportunity to demonstrate what is possible in our tech ecosystem, showcase the depth of our innovation and the boldness of our ideas.’
On his part, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “Lagos is and continues to be a city that facilitates progress. As we collectively build our city into the preferred destination for innovation and digital solutions, GITEX NIGERIA’s shared ambition will place Lagos at the heart of Africa’s digital future.”
The director general/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said: “We are committed to cultivating a Nigerian digital ecosystem that becomes a global benchmark for equitable AI advancement; one that is synonymous with inclusive access to AI technologies, infrastructure, and solutions. GITEX NIGERIA is more than an event, it is the cornerstone for Africa’s digital renaissance and a catalyst for developing world-class AI infrastructure which promotes scalability, sovereignty & global competitiveness.”
The GITEX NIGERIA programme then transits to Lagos, headlining across two locations from 3-4 September. The Eko Hotel Convention Centre hosts the GITEX NIGERIA Tech Expo & Future Economy Conference, while the Landmark Centre welcomes the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival.
(Leadership News)
