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By Tracy Yekaghe
The Plateau Association of Tech Companies (PLATEC) has tasked the state government on the need to partner private sector tech companies to drive social and economic growth within the state and across Nigeria.
RELATED: Morocco unites global tech community’s commitment to advancing African digital economy at momentous GITEX Africa launch
“Private sector [players] are the engine room for any governmental development in the state or country which means that our government must be deliberate to work with all the private tech companies under the Plateau Association of Tech Companies (PLATEC) to provide more employable skills training, remote jobs, and IT solutions locally with Plateau state,” said Chief Koppe Sylvanus Joseph, president of PLATEC who is also the CEO & Founder at A+ Computer Training Technology.
Plateau tech at GITEX Africa: Nearpays, NetAccess Communications and Topcity Enterprises Limited
According to him three Plateau tech indigenous companies are participating at the GITEX Africa currently holding in Marrakech, Morocco to showcase the potentials of local companies operating within Plateau state and also investment benefits of the state to prospective global investors.
“I am very happy that our effort is always keeping Plateau on the global map of tech space and this month, Plateau tech indigenous companies are currently representing Plateau state at this year’s GITEX AI Tech Summit in Morocco courtesy of PLATEC via private-sector support to its members,” Joseph posted.
The three companies are Nearpays, Topcity Enterprises Limited and NetAccess Communications .
Topcity Enterprises limited, Topcity Agrihub, is an agritech startup providing postharvest solutions including post-harvest management, market linkage and agri products supply to help to boost agribusinesses in Northern Nigeria
NetAccess Communications Nigeria Limited, an IT services and consulting, company in Jos that provides a blend of flexible internet connectivity, software development, and fast track training solutions among others.
Nearpays, a full-service financial payment platform, acts as an end-to-end financial service for all its clients. The company has created various features to simplify online payments based on the principle that payments should be seamless. Nearpays made it to the final at the GITEX AFRICA Startup Competition as a Supernova Finalist.
The GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge is the biggest pitch competition in Africa, and offers startups opportunity to become the next unicorn. With $100,000 total cash prize up for grabs, the GITEX AFRICA Supernova Challenge is the most anticipated pitch competition for entrepreneurs displaying groundbreaking innovations and highlighting their value in front of the world.
Lagos stresses vision to be Africa’s digital economy hub at GITEX Africa
He advised Plateau state to take a cue from the Lagos state government that has a powerful presence at the global event led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is using the event to canvass for investment into Lagos state. Watch video.
Lagos state is promoting over 30 tech and innovation startups at Gitex Africa in addition to hosting a business space managed by the state’s ministry of science & technology to share the Lagos experience and spread the business case of why Lagos is an attractive investors’ destination on the continent.
Inside the Lagos Space at GITEX Africa. Governor Sanwo-Olu with the Lagos team including Hon Hakeem Fahm and Olatubosun Alake (Office of the S.A Innovation and Tech LASG).
Sanwo-Olu himself took the global spotlight at the main stage GITEX Africa conference where he articulated on the vision of Lagos state to become Africa’s digital economy hub even as he told the international audience including investors from over 90 countries that Lagos, and rest of Africa has become the ‘go-to’ place for high return on investment (RoI).
“This year alone Lagos state government sponsored 30 tech hubs to represent Lagos state in Morocco and the governor accompanied them himself to Morocco to ensure international partnership for the tech hubs representing Lagos state,” the PLATEC president said..
Adding: “PLATEC calls on the state government to deliberately partner with all the tech companies within Plateau state to foster local content solutions that will boost human capital development, direct or remote employability of women/youths through tech skills in the state, boost investment opportunities that will lead to more revenues generation in the state from the tech space in Plateau state. We are committed to changing the narrative in this Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
