By Fatimah Yusuf Usman,

The dust has settled on GITEX Africa 2025, and Nigeria’s presence at the event is still being talked about. Held in the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco, from April 14th to 16th, this year’s edition of GITEX Africa was more than just another tech event—it was a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s growing digital ecosystem.

At the heart of this extraordinary showcase was the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), whose commanding presence sent a clear message to the world: Nigeria is not just participating in the digital revolution; it is leading it.

Nigeria’s participation was nothing short of spectacular. NITDA, spearheading the country’s tech presence, not only exhibited Nigeria’s groundbreaking innovations but also placed the spotlight firmly on the country’s vision for the future of digital transformation.

In collaboration with other national stakeholders, the agency helped to present Nigeria’s vibrant tech sector to over 1,400 exhibitors from 130 countries, including 400 top investors managing a collective $250 billion in assets.

But Nigeria’s most significant contribution came from its delegation of 12 pioneering startups—each one a testament to the ingenuity and potential of the Nigerian tech landscape. Among these startups, companies working across AI, fintech, agritech, and smart solutions took center stage, showing off their innovative approaches to solving some of Africa’s most pressing problems.

The display of Nigeria’s homegrown talent and vision was nothing short of extraordinary. It wasn’t just about showcasing technology; it was about showcasing solutions that could change the course of Africa’s future. However, it wasn’t just the startups that made waves.

NITDA’s Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, was a central figure throughout the event, driving discussions and fostering collaborations with key stakeholders. A particularly powerful moment came during a high-level conversation between Inuwa and cybersecurity giant Kaspersky.

This strategic dialogue focused on improving Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework—a critical area for any nation looking to grow digitally. The collaboration could prove transformative, as Kaspersky pledged its support in strengthening Nigeria’s defenses against the growing threat of cybercrime.

But what truly made NITDA’s participation in GITEX Africa 2025 stand out was the agency’s holistic approach to Nigeria’s digital future. NITDA wasn’t just talking about technology; they were laying the groundwork for lasting change. Whether it was advocating for policies that empower tech startups or pushing for the integration of AI into leadership strategies across Africa, NITDA’s influence was felt at every turn.

Their participation at the event was a bold affirmation of Nigeria’s role in shaping the continent’s digital destiny. Inuwa’s leadership throughout the event also emphasized the crucial role of digital education in Nigeria’s long-term strategy.

As the nation seeks to become a key exporter of tech talent, integrating digital literacy into the education system is no longer a luxury but a necessity. At GITEX, Inuwa made it clear that Nigeria is committed to not just consuming technology but creating it and preparing future generations to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

The event also offered a platform for Inuwa to engage in conversations about cybersecurity, particularly during the Counter Ransomware Initiative’s Crystal Ball Workshop. Nigeria’s proactive stance in joining the fight against ransomware showed its commitment to securing its digital future, making it clear that the country is prepared to confront and defeat the cyber threats that could hinder its growth.

As the event drew to a close, it was Nigeria’s startups that stole the show. Crop2Cash, a Nigerian agritech startup, was awarded The Young CEO Award, a significant recognition that came with a $5,000 prize. Another Nigerian startup, Vinsight, was named one of the top 10 finalists in the SUPERNOVA Special Awards, cementing Nigeria’s place at the cutting edge of Africa’s digital evolution.

Kashifu Inuwa expressed immense pride in these victories, highlighting how such recognitions underscore the potential and promise of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem on the global stage. GITEX Africa 2025 may have come to an end, but the impact of Nigeria’s participation will reverberate for years to come.

NITDA’s robust showing at the event proved one thing above all: Nigeria is ready to lead in the global digital economy. With its dynamic tech startups, forward-thinking leadership, and commitment to digital transformation, Nigeria is positioning itself not just as a player in Africa’s digital landscape but as a powerhouse shaping the future of the continent’s technology-driven growth.

Fatimah Yusuf Usman writes from PRNigeria Centre, Abuja. She can be reached via: fatimahborkono@gmail.com.

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TECHDIGEST – Nigeria, in recent years, has seen an increase in the number of companies addressing challenges in the agriculture sector with technology. With this growth, Nigeria has become one of the most vibrant agritech markets in Sub-Saharan Africa as the market continues to attract funders and support organisations from across the globe.

Today several agritech firms such as Farmcrowdy, Thrive Agric, AgroMall, Hello Tractor, and Crop2Cash, among others, are offering innovative digital solutions to address Nigeria’s agriculture problems. These companies have launched digital solutions that aim to improve farmers’ access to markets, finance, assets, and actionable data-driven information

However, investments in this segment are still very low as investors are shying away from agritech due to the perceived risk of investing in agriculture and the opportunity cost compared to other sectors. While some of the agritech startups have attracted commercial investments and benefitted from grant funding, many of these firms are yet to get the needed impetus to scale.

Amidst the paucity of funds in the sector, these agritech startups secured significant funding in the amount of $84.05 combined for the period in review

Hello Tractor ($1 million)

Hello Tractor is a Nigerian agritech company that focuses on connecting tractor owners and smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa through farm equipment sharing applications.

Founded in 2014 by Jehiel Oliver and Van Jones, the company has rolled out a tracking device and software that allows farmers and tractor owners to book connected tractors from their phones.

Farmers get a critical service formerly unavailable to them, and owners see a fleet optimisation opportunity that also minimises fuel theft and fraud.

In May 2022, Hello Tractor raised $1 million in funding from Heifer International, which supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. The cash is funding a new programme, “Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Tractor Financing for Increased Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria.

Vendease ($3.2 million)

Vendease is an agri-tech startup that lets restaurants and other food businesses buy supplies directly from manufacturers and farms. The agritech platform recently raised $3.2 million seed funding to transform Africa’s food supply chain in a funding round led by Global Founders Capital with participation from Y Combinator, Hustle Fund, Liquid 2 Ventures, and Soma Cap.

The funding comes seven months after the company, along with nine other African entrepreneurs, participated in Y Combinator’s winter batch.

Vendease was founded in January 2020 by Tunde Kara, Olumide Fayankin, Gatumi Aliyu, and Wale Oyepeju, to solve Africa’s food supply chain problems by automating procurement procedures, storage operations, logistics, and providing flexible payment systems to help food businesses grow.

Through its mobile and web apps, Vendease allows food businesses to place orders for food supplies, manage inventory, track expenses and gain access to credit facilities.

Releaf ($4.2 million)

Releaf is an agritech start-up founded by Ikenna Nzewi and Uzoma Ayogu, with a focus on developing proprietary hardware and software solutions that make African farmers and food factories more efficient and profitable.

The firm 2021 raised $2.7 million in a seed funding round led by Samurai Incubate Africa, Future Africa, and Consonance Investment Managers, with participation from Stephen Pagliuca, Chairman of Bain Capital, and Justin Kan (Twitch). In addition, Releaf also secured $1.5 million in grants from The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) and USAID, making a total of $4.2 million in seed funding and grant.

Releaf’s software connects the start-up to more than 2,000 smallholder farmers, ensuring consistent, large-scale supply. While palm kernel oil production is not foreign to Nigeria, Releaf’s technology and scale mean it can process 500 tonnes of palm nuts per week.

The software offerings also allow the start-up to receive inbound supply requests from farmers via USSD, provide working capital financing as well as collect proprietary data on supply availability.

Agricorp ($17.5 million)

Agricorp is a Nigerian spices producing, processing, and exporting company. The company September last year raised $17.5 million in Series A funding to increase its processing capacity up to 7000 metric tonnes.

This fund was raised from Vami Nigeria, One Capital LLC and AFEX. Nigerian-based Vami led the funding round with $11.5 million in equity, while the other investors provided working capital financing for the company. Ernst & Young (Nigeria) served as transaction advisers while Elisio Law Office and Pavestone Legal served as legal advisers.

Founded in 2018 by Kenneth Obiajulu and Wale Omotimirin, Agricorp is contributing to meeting the growing demand of spices as an export material. Data from Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture shows that despite being the third highest exporter of ginger globally, Nigeria’s ginger production is put at 31 million MT while demand is put at 65 million MT, leaving a gap of 34 million MT.

ThriveAgric ($58.15 million)

ThriveAgric has not just recorded the largest fundraising in the agritech sector, it was one of the top Nigerian startup fundraisers in Q1 2022. The company was founded by Uka Eje, and Ayodeji Arikawe to provide access to finance, premium markets, and data-driven advisory for smallholder farmers.

Last year, the company secured a $1.75 million grant to support 50,000 smallholder farmers growing rice, maize, and soybean in Nigeria. The grant is provided by the West Africa Trade and Investment Hub, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to improve food security in the country.

In March 2022, ThriveAgric secured $56.4 million in debt funding from commercial banks and institutional investors, bringing its total fund raised between 2021 and 2022 to $58.15 million.

With the new investment, the company plans to expand its 200,000+ farmer base, as well as enter new markets in Africa, including Ghana, Zambia, and Kenya.

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TECHDIGEST – Nigerian agritech startup, Agrikoin, has declared that it is committed to ending the financial challenges confronting small scales farmers throughout the country’s agricultural value chain.

Agrikoin is an agriculture-backed Cryptocurrency, created to catalyze financial inclusion within the agricultural value chain. It is also creating a decentralized supply chain that can allow farmers to sell their produce seamlessly to end consumers.

Chief Executive Officer of Agrikoin, Isa Ismail Waziri, told TechDigest in an interview, that the goal of his startup is to alleviate the financial problems of small-scale farmers through the introduction of its unique digital currency for the entire agricultural ecosystem.

He said: “I came up with the idea of Agrikoin, considering the situation small scale farmers are going through from production to sales. Lack of finance and market access were the motivation behind Agrikoin conceptualisation.

“Agrikoin is unique in such a way that it is the digital currency (electronic money) confined or backed by agriculture in Africa. It is a revolution to the agritech industry. It will address challenges faced by all the stakeholders within the value chain, and it will make the agricultural ecosystem more vibrant and sustainable”.

Waziri praised National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for granting him full sponsorship to participate at the 2021 GITEX Future Stars event in Dubai.

“It was a wonderful experience, traveling with diplomats as a delegate of my country. Most importantly, I had the taste of the global tech ecosystem and have mingled with people from diverse tech ecosystems and culture”.

The AgriKoin CEO concluded with an appeal to the federal government and other relevant agencies to provide the necessary support to enable Agrikoin to deploy their distinctive agricultural financial services for the benefit of Nigerians and the growth of the country’s economy.

TechDigest gathered that the minimum viable product (MVP) of the startup generated 5000 users within 3 months of its launch, an indication that many Nigerian would utilize the new agriculture-based financial solution.

Agrikoin is among the nine tech startups that were successfully unveiled by NITDA at the just concluded 2021 GITEX Future Stars Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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