GITEX Nigeria 2026 Opens in Abuja, Unites Gov’t, Global Tech Leaders to Advance AI Ambitions
By Abbas Badmus,
The second edition of GITEX Nigeria, West Africa’s largest technology, artificial intelligence and startup event, officially opened in Abuja on Monday, bringing together senior government officials, global technology leaders, investors and other digital economy stakeholders.
Held from August 31 to September 3 across Abuja and Lagos, the four-day event is focused on accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, strengthening local technology capabilities and positioning Africa as a stronger player in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The event is being held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). It is endorsed by the Lagos State Government and organised by KAOUN International, the global organiser of GITEX events.
The opening ceremony was followed by the Abuja Government Leadership & AI Summit, which attracted more than 500 public- and private-sector leaders and investors from Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said Nigeria was laying the foundations for technology-led growth through investments in technical talent, digital infrastructure, cloud computing and responsible artificial intelligence.
Inuwa highlighted initiatives including the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL), the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and Project BRIDGE, saying they were helping to expand Nigeria’s technical talent pool and improve digital inclusion.
He said Nigeria was also developing the policy, cloud infrastructure and regulatory frameworks required to host more data locally, deploy AI responsibly and improve national productivity.
“GITEX NIGERIA positions our country as a global force shaping the international tech ecosystem, not just participating in it,” he added.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by Permanent Secretary of Political and Economic Affairs Office, Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens said Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy would require a shift from basic connectivity and technology consumption to indigenous innovation and advanced digital capabilities.
Senator Akume, who represented the Federal Government at the summit, said GITEX Nigeria provided an important platform for government and the private sector to align their efforts towards technology-driven economic transformation.
He said the country must transition from being a consumer of foreign technology to becoming a producer of talent, infrastructure and locally designed AI solutions.
“Under the vision of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is boldly driving toward a $1 trillion economy,” Akume said.
He added that the country was entering “a new era for Africa” by strengthening its capacity to develop and deploy technology locally.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Nigeria’s technology investment opportunities were expanding beyond the traditional fintech market, pointing to computing infrastructure and digital government services as major areas of growth.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos, with its extensive subsea cable infrastructure, was strategically positioned to become a major hub for data centres and AI computing in Africa.
He noted that significant portions of Africa’s AI workloads were currently processed outside the continent, creating challenges around latency, cost and data protection.
According to him, Lagos’ electricity reforms, fibre infrastructure and data centre developments could help address the challenge while creating opportunities for international investors.
The governor also identified the digitalisation of government services as another major investment opportunity, citing procurement, revenue collection, permitting, healthcare records, transportation and land administration.
He said Lagos was creating a sizeable and recurring market for enterprise software as government services become increasingly digitised.
Held under the theme, “Beyond Connectivity – The Bridge to Sovereign AI & Innovation,” the Government Leadership & AI Summit focused on the policies, infrastructure, financing and partnerships required to advance Africa’s digital transformation.
More than 25 international experts participated in discussions covering digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data protection, connectivity, investment and strategic partnerships.
Sessions examined issues including the development of backbone and last-mile infrastructure through cables, satellites and blended financing models.
Participants also explored ways to attract more private capital into digital infrastructure, with discussions focusing on risk, governance and deal structures that have continued to limit commercial investment across West Africa.
Another key session, “An African Opportunity: The Turning Point of eGov & Digital Interoperability,” examined the rapid development of digital government systems across Africa and opportunities arising from the expansion of digital identity, payment and data-exchange infrastructure.
Following the Abuja summit, GITEX Nigeria will move to Lagos from September 2 to 3 for the Tech Expo, alongside the Future Economy Conference and FDX by GITEX.
The Lagos programme is expected to provide startups and entrepreneurs with opportunities to connect with international investors, secure partnerships and explore global markets.
More than 200 investors from 30 countries, collectively managing about $200 billion in assets, are expected to participate.
Among the international investment firms joining the programme are Askya Investment Partners of France, Incofin Investment of Belgium, Triple Jump of Kenya and the Netherlands, Lightrock of the United Kingdom, Global Ventures of the United Arab Emirates and Innovest Afrika of the United States.
The organisers said the impact of GITEX Nigeria was already being demonstrated through investment deals generated from its inaugural edition in 2025.
For instance, venture studio FirstFounders connected with 18 startups during the 2025 event, with LabTracka, Vant and GraceAI subsequently entering deeper discussions with the firm.
Vant, an AI-powered business banking and management platform, later joined the FirstFounders portfolio through a $200,000 investment, combining funding with operational support.
The development, organisers said, demonstrates the potential of GITEX Nigeria to connect African startups with global capital and create long-term pathways for investment and business growth.
