By 
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is leading Nigerian delegation at the ongoing Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX).
Dr Pantami and Mallam Abdullahi with the MD of IoT Africa Limited, Mr. Lare Ayoola, at the booth of the company inside the Nigerian Country Pavilion
Nigeria and more than 80 countries are participating at the 40th edition of the GITEX Technology Week holding from 6th–10th December.
Anchored by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria’s participation is focusing on promoting youth-led enterprises to showcase innovations coming from its tech startups community and the country’s strong policy-thrust on digital economy.
The minister officially opened the Nigerian Country Pavilion describing the event as a push towards implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NEDPS) launched in 2019 and fostering global partnership as Africa’s largest economy shifts towards digitization of its economy.
About 10 startups from across the country are officially being sponsored by the NITDA to participate in the Global Future Stars (GFS), a major highlight of GITEX 2020 offering a veritable window for the country’s startup community to leverage international exposure, angel investors and mentoring. Nigeria is promoting its startup ecosystem inside its Startup Pavilion at the GFS which has over 200 startups from several other countries.
Last year, one of sponsored startups, Chiniki won the top prize for AI solutions at the 2019 GFS.
The NITDA is projecting its anchor-themes at the GITEX Africa Investment Forum (AIF) centred round exploring the ‘new generation of entrepreneurs, investors and government leaders making the most of technology to continue bringing economic growth and prosperity to the continent generally, and Nigeria specifically.
The 2020 GITEX AIF is a one-day program that will cover key tech trends across industries with representation from Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
According to the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Nigeria’s participation is anchored on promoting the energetic entrepreneurship of its young people and the strong push for digital economy.
Mallam Abdullahi said Nigeria targets early recovery from the pandemic, and sees strong economic rebound through the tech innovations of its youths even as it explores the digital economy space to seek for global collaboration so as to re-energise and re-engineer its economy.
Nations are increasingly navigating the pandemic to keep their economy growing, and avoid complete stagnation, he added.
NITDA’s firm belief in the Nigerian youth and the capacity of the tech innovation ecosystem to join in transforming the nation’s economy underscore the numerous support of the agency for youth entrepreneurship and specifically continuous sponsorship of startups to the GITEX.
GITEX 2020 will be the only major technology show to be held in a face to face setting this year, It is the only global event to offer personal business networking and close interaction with the plethora of new tech and gadgets that will be on display during the show.
According to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organisers of the event, “GITEX 2020 will apply the most rigorous health and safety standards, as laid out by government authorities, including Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Municipality, to ensure the health and safety of everyone on its premises. Attendees can visit the event in full confidence that the highest standards of safety and hygiene are being applied.
“As the only face to face technology event to be held in 2020, GITEX 2020 attendees will be able to hear key insights from a huge range of international speakers and influencers and interact with exhibitors across the conference agenda and exhibition areas centre on the key themes of 5G, AI, Analytics, Future Mobility, Digital Economies, Cybersecurity and Cloud and Edge computing – everything that will underpin the future digital living
GITEX 2020 is reinforcing post pandemic recovery, offering the over 100, 000 visitors a real-life platform to explore opportunities and challenges beyond COVID-19. “This year will feature 26 exhibition sectors from over 80 countries and an opportunity for a see-through on what’s coming next in the world of technology and business, as top technology enterprises, startups and think-tanks from around the world reveal their eureka moments and life-changing innovations.”
.
