Lagos Governor Endorses GITEX Nigeria, Vows State Backing
During the meeting, the NITDA Director General highlighted the significance of GITEX Nigeria in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly concerning economic diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has officially endorsed the inaugural GITEX Nigeria, promising the full backing of the Lagos State Government to ensure the success of the international technology and innovation event. Describing Lagos as Nigeria’s digital heartbeat, the Governor affirmed his administration’s dedication to making GITEX Nigeria a world-class experience for both local and global participants.
The Governor’s assurance came during a strategic courtesy visit to Lagos House by a high-powered delegation. The delegation included Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) , and the President and Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre. This visit forms a crucial part of the preparations for the maiden edition of GITEX Nigeria, which is scheduled to take place in Lagos and Abuja from September 1st to 4th, 2025.
During the meeting, the NITDA Director General highlighted the significance of GITEX Nigeria in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly concerning economic diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation. Inuwa also noted that the conference aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which emphasizes driving digital transformation through global partnerships and inclusive growth.
The event is projected to attract over 15,000 participants, including 3,000 international delegates, and is expected to deliver substantial economic and societal benefits for Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
GITEX Nigeria will be a dual-city event: Abuja will host the AI Leadership Summit, featuring a presidential roundtable on digital transformation, while Lagos will be the venue for the Global Future Economy Summit, a Startup Festival, and a proposed Lagos Innovation Day.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s endorsement also served as the symbolic handover of the Lagos hosting mandate, fulfilling a challenge he issued in 2023 for Nigeria to host GITEX. He lauded the collaborative efforts of NITDA and the Dubai World Trade Centre, expressing confidence that the event will inspire participants and strengthen Nigeria’s digital future.
It is noteworthy that on May 30th, 2024, the Federal Government, through NITDA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to host GITEX, the world’s largest technology fair, for the first time in Nigeria. This agreement was finalized during GITEX Africa in Marrakesh, Morocco.
GITEX Nigeria is anticipated to be a major milestone, showcasing Nigeria’s readiness to lead Africa’s digital transformation and providing a vital platform for startups, innovators, and investors to connect and thrive.
