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By Tracy Yekaghe
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, this week at GITEX Africa, Marrakech, Morocco turned the topnotch salesman for Lagos state and a canvasser for investments into the continent. Watch Video.
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“I stand before you today not just as the Governor of Lagos State, a sub-sovereign state within Nigeria with a population of over 20 million people, but as an ardent believer in the vast and untapped potential that Africa holds within the realms of technology and digital innovation.
“As the Governor of Lagos State, a city that is at the forefront of this transformation, I am committed to supporting the growth of the tech industry in Africa,” Sanwo-Olu told the international audience of over 300 investors, 250 conference speakers, 30 ministerial delegations, 900 exhibitors and startups, as well as over 20, 000 trade visitors all drawn from about 120 countries.
GITEX Africa made an historic debut from 31 May-2; broke all projections and sold-out with cross-continent support of the global tech community. It has turned out to become Africa’s largest, most influential tech and startup event under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Lagos is home to most innovative and successful startups in Africa
“Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling mega-city, is emerging as a thriving epicenter of tech entrepreneurship and innovation. Lagos is home to some of the most innovative and successful startups in Africa, including Andela, Paystack, Flutterwave, Kobo360, Kuda Bank and many others. These companies have not only transformed industries like fintech and e-commerce but have also inspired a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors across the continent.
“These success stories have been made possible, in part, by the fund raised from companies, unicorns, and venture capital firms that have flooded the Lagos tech ecosystem in recent years. More importantly, these investments have been attracted to the market size and the enabling environment that Lagos is becoming on the African continent,” Sanwo-Olu added even as he expressed his commitment to the growth of the tech industry in Africa.
He said: “The acceleration of Africa towards becoming the next Silicon Valley is not a mere aspiration; it is a reality unfolding before our eyes. It is a collective effort that requires the continued collaboration of governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society. It is a journey of transformation that sees Africa not just as a consumer of technology but as a creator, an innovator, and a leader in the digital age,”
Sanwo-Olu said his administration remains committed to fostering an enabling environment for startups and tech companies believing that they make up the real engine for economic growth with capacity to create jobs, and address various societal challenges.
Government will continuously seek for collaboration within and outside the country to grow the economy, the governor stressed in Marrakesh..
Sanwo-Olu: Seeking for “more potential investors into our shores”
He tweeted: “In a bid to attract more potential investors into our shores, I met with the leaders and organizers of the Gitex Africa Technology summit. Our partnership would ultimately see us increasing the focus and investment in new technology advancements, the governor tweeted.
Adding: “Artificial intelligence (A.I) is taking the technology space to a different level of advancement. It is redefining how people think, act and access data in a seamless way.
“At the GITEX Africa technology showcase, I met with the UAE minister for Artificial Intelligence. Our discussion focused on A.I Development with a focus on Africa. The minister expressed his willingness to drive A.I partnerships with Lagos to foster beneficial A.I frameworks.”
Nigeria features strong government presence + over 50 startups
GITEX Africa attracted participation from across Africa and the rest of the globe, Nigerian participants included over 50 startups, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, Uniccon Group of Companies (creators of Africa’s first humanoid robot – Omeife), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), among others.
Lagos state is sponsoring a number of startups totalling over 30 in partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to 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.
The event was inaugurated by the Moroccan Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, who said the event has demonstrated the readiness of the continent for the digital transformation.
His words: “In light of the economic turmoil and profound transformations the world is witnessing today, digital technology has become an essential and unprecedented lever for economic development both internationally, and in the African continent in particular.
“Africa has increasingly worked to consolidate its position as a dynamic environment that supports innovation, and in this regard, GITEX Africa is an occasion to highlight the promising potential of the African continent.”
