*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, explains GITEX NIGERIA event positions the West African country as a ‘global force’ not just participating in but shaping the international technology ecosystem
Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect
The much-expected GITEX NIGERIA officially commenced Monday, August 31, 2026, as a high-profile inauguration ceremony launched the 2nd Edition of West Africa’s largest technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and startup event, in Abuja, FCT.
ConsumerConnect reports cross-sections of regional and international digital economy stakeholders graced the grand inauguration ceremony and Government Leadership & AI Summit.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said the event would position the West African country as a global force shaping the international tech ecosystem, not just participating in it.
With senior government officials, international technology leaders, and digital economy stakeholders in attendance, the ceremony marked the beginning of an expanded 2026 programme, designed to advance Africa’s sovereign AI and digital transformation ambitions.
On Government Leadership and AI Summit
The agency also noted that the transnational event has set the scene for the Abuja Government Leadership and AI Summit that headlined the opening-day agenda Monday, in the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The event being held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, GITEX NIGERIA takes place across Abuja and Lagos August 31– September 3 this year.
The event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) in collaboration with the NITDA.
GITEX NIGERIA is also endorsed by the Lagos State Government (LASG) and organised by KAOUN International, the global organiser of GITEX events.
Foundations for digital sovereignty, tech-led growth in Nigeria
Speaking at the inauguration of the week-long event, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, lauded Nigeria’s efforts at building the foundations for digital sovereignty and technology-led growth.
Inuwa stated: “Achieving true digital sovereignty means owning the capabilities, infrastructure, and intelligence that power our future.
“Through strategic initiatives like DL4ALL, 3MTT and Project BRIDGE, we are rapidly scaling our technical talent pool and extending high-speed digital inclusion across every local government area.”
The Director-General also noted: “We are building the policy, cloud infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks necessary to host our data locally, deploy AI responsibly, and enhance overall national productivity.
“GITEX NIGERIA positions our country as a global force shaping the international tech ecosystem, not just participating in it.”
The IT sector regulatory agency further explained that as national initiatives are strengthening Nigeria’s digital foundations, Lagos is translating this momentum into investable opportunities across compute infrastructure and digital public services in the commercial hub of the country.
According to NITDA, Lagos State’s expanding connectivity, regulatory reforms, and public-sector digitalisation are creating new markets for technology providers and international capital.
Lagos is top cable-landed city on African continent: Sanwo-Olu
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony if the 2nd Edition of GITEX NIGERIA in Abuja, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said: “Most international capital looks at Nigeria and sees consumer fintech.
“That was the last decade’s trade. Here is what I believe is being under-priced today.”
Sanwo-Olu averred: “First, compute. Lagos is one of the most cable-landed cities on the African continent.
“We have world-class subsea capacity arriving on our shores – and comparatively little of the compute that should sit behind it.”
He explained: “Africa’s AI workloads are currently being processed in Europe.
“That is a latency problem, a cost problem, a data sovereignty problem, and therefore an investment opportunity.”
The Lagos Governor also stated: “First, with our electricity law, our fibre programme and our data centre campuses, Lagos is the natural place to fix it.
“Second, the government market itself.
“Lagos operates a budget larger than that of several West African countries.”
He further said: “As we digitise procurement, revenue, permitting, health records, transport and land administration, we are creating a serious, recurring,
creditworthy enterprise software market – one that most global technology firms have not
yet properly bid for.”
Accelerating Nigeria’s technology-led economic transformation
NITDA said the Abuja Government Leadership and AI Summit reinforced the shared commitment of Federal and state leaders to accelerate Nigeria’s technology-led economic transformation.
It said such transformation highlights the country’s ambition to advance from technology consumption to indigenous innovation, digital sovereignty, and global production.
Nigeria committed to attaining $1trn economy, says SGF
Earlier, in his presentation at the event, Senator (Dr.) George Akume, CON, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in Nigeria, said: “Under the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is boldly driving towards a $1 trillion economy.
Challenging Nigerians to achieve economic transformation, Akume asserted that “we must now move far beyond basic connectivity to build true indigenous innovation and digital sovereignty.”
According to the SGF, GITEX NIGERIA provides the strategic platform where government vision aligns with private sector execution.
He equally noted: “This is our opportunity for decisive transition from being mere consumers of foreign technology to becoming global producers of talent, sovereign infrastructure, and inclusively designed AI – built by Nigeria, for Nigeria.
“We are leading a new era for Africa.”
Critical dialogue on digital infrastructure, African AI sovereignty
Under the theme, “Beyond Connectivity – The Bridge to Sovereign AI & Innovation” , the Abuja Government Leadership and AI Summit placed technology leadership, coordinated policymaking, and cross-sector collaboration at the centre of West Africa’s next phase of digital and economic development – welcoming over 500 public- and private-sector leaders and investors from across the region and around the globe.
NITDA said fiscussions throughout the day examined how Africa can translate growing digital ambition into trusted infrastructure, scalable innovation, and long-term economic value.
From digital public infrastructure, AI, cybersecurity, and data sovereignty to connectivity, investment, and strategic partnerships, the summit welcomed over 25 distinguished international experts to analyse the foundations required for West African economies to strengthen technological capability while accelerating inclusion, productivity, and regional competitiveness.
Monday’s agenda examined the policies, infrastructure, financing models, and partnerships required to advance Africa’s digital transformation and sovereign technology ambitions.
‘Backbone Infrastructure & Last-Mile Connectivity: Cables, Satellites & Blended Finance’ explored how cables, towers, satellites, edge infrastructure, and blended finance can help close Africa’s connectivity gap while making last-mile deployment commercially viable, while ‘Getting Private Capital to Move into Digital Infrastructure’ addressed the risk, governance, and deal-structure barriers continuing to constrain commercial investment across West Africa and the wider continent.
Industry leaders also converged for ‘An African Opportunity: The Turning Point of eGov & Digital Interoperability’.
This session analysed Africa’s accelerating digital government transformation and the immediate opportunities emerging for technology providers, investors, and financial institutions as countries scale digital identity, payment, and data-exchange infrastructure.
Lagos Tech Expo set to stimulate startup growth & investment
Following Monday’s Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja, GITEX NIGERIA moves to Lagos from 2–3 September for the Tech Expo, staged alongside the Future Economy Conference and FDX by GITEX.
The expo will provide local and regional entrepreneurs and startups with a powerful platform to begin their scaling journeys, connect with international capital, secure new partnerships, and access opportunities across global markets.
Over 200 investors from 30 countries, collectively managing US$200 billion in assets, will participate. New international funds joining the programme include France’s Askya Investment Partners, Belgium’s Incofin Investment, Kenya- and Netherlands-based Triple Jump, UK-based Lightrock, UAE-based Global Ventures, and US-based Innovest Afrika.
The programme’s impact has already extended beyond the show floor. At the inaugural edition of GITEX NIGERIA in 2025, venture studio FirstFounders connected with 18 startups, with LabTracka, Vant, and GraceAI subsequently entering deeper discussions with the firm.
Vant, an AI-powered business banking and management platform, has since joined the FirstFounders portfolio through an investment valued at US$200,000, combining capital with operational support – demonstrating how engagement at GITEX NIGERIA could develop into longer-term investment and growth pathways.
GITEX NIGERIA is West Africa’s largest technology and startup event, bringing together global technology leaders, government policymakers, investors, startups and enterprise decision-makers to accelerate digital transformation across Africa’s largest economy.
The event GITEX NIGERIA is part of the global GITEX network of technology and startup events spanning Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Italy, Türkiye, the UAE, Vietnam and more.