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Organisers of the GITEX Technology Week, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria are enhancing the value proposition of Africa Investment Forum (AIF) this year as the event gains momentum.
This year, the AIF is drawing speakers from within and outside the continent with modules on expanding the economy value of the technology sector in Africa. A Nigeria Focus session has presentations and panel discussions hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria and High Investment Potential in Nigeria’s ICT Sector.
The AIF begins with presentation and audience discussion on ‘Accelerating sustainable Chinese investments in Africa’s infrastructure – lessons from the Belt and Road Initiative.’ The discussion will offer different perspectives on the impact on trade and investment from Chinese stakeholders. From funding major infrastructure alongside strategic entry by technology companies like Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba helping advance industries across the continent. Not everyone is positive to these developments and warnings sounds ahead. African Continental Free Trade Agreement is introduced. Dr. Christoph Nedopil Wang, Director, Green Belt & Road Initiative, Senior Research Fellow, CUFE, will anchor this session.
Others are the CEO Connect hosted By Gulf Africa Review with real world perspective to help investors prepare to take on and succeed doing business in Africa; the Africa Business Briefing & Networking Breakfast: on Mastering the African Tech Start-up Scene and Getting in on the Ground floor. This session tackles what it takes to succeed in Africa beyond just good ideas. Both sessions draws from expertise of speakers across the continnet including Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Cote d’ Ivoire and Nigeria.
and anchoring a Nigeria Presentation and Audience Discussion on Accelerating sustainable Chinese investments in Africa’s infrastructure – lessons from the Belt and Road Initiative.
The pearl of the AIF Presentations & Panel Discussions Hosted by NITDA on ‘Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria & High Investment Potential in Nigeria’s ICT Sector.’
The Session opens with a kickstart note by Dr Pantami on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria & High Investment Potential in Nigeria’s ICT Sector and a a welcome remark by Mr Abdullahi, the country’s IT regulator on ‘NITDA as an Enabler of Technology Investment in Nigeria.’
The Nigeria Session features an Investors Panel – Leveraging the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria – Africa’s Largest Economy. Nigeria represents one of the biggest opportunities to harness the skillsets of its demography. This discussion looks at current prospects to outsource services and operations to Nigeria and foreseeing potential bottlenecks to overcome. The speakers include: Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund; Jelani Aliyu, Director General, Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC); Ms Abimbola Alale, Managing Director/ CEO – Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT; Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman – Digital Africa Group; and Dr. Agu Collins Agu, Director of Corporate Planning & Strategy, NITDA.
The AIF rounds up with a Nigerian Startups Interaction; an audience interactive discussion on the Nigeria startup ecosystem. According to a report by AppsAfrica, Nigeria is the top funding hub for tech startups in Africa with about $334.5M invested as at January 2019. By sheer size of equity investment deals, Nigeria drew more venture capital in 2018 than its Southern African and East African counterparts; and has sustained that trend in 2019. For venture capitalists or an angel investors looking to invest in a company; for entrepreneurs looking for capital or other opportunities; for aspiring startup owners looking for assistance, Nigeria offers vast opportunities. This discussion focuses on how.
