EXCERPTS FROM GITEX NIGERIA 2025
With the ICT sector contributing 16-18 percent to the total nominal Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria, it has undoubtedly emerged as Nigeria’s new economic backbone, surpassing Oil and Gas. Hence it was not surprising that the second edition of the GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exchange) in Africa held in Nigeria during the week, the first edition held in Morocco in 2023.
With Ondo state under the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa positioning itself as a hub for innovation and technological advancement, I represented the State at the GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos on Wednesday and Thursday, September 3-4. I joined thousands of visitors at the Landmark and Eko Hotel& Suites venues to explore breakthroughs in cloud, fintech and digital infrastructure.
On Wednesday, the Governor of Lagos, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the welcome address at the opening session, while the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy gave a keynote address. They both gave insight on how the federal government and state governments through the Nigeria Governors Forum(NGF) are working together to ensure our national economy hits $1 trillion by 2030, with technology as a major driver of the target.
I thereafter moved around the exhibition area to converse with various Tech startups, watching them showcase their cutting-edge solutions, ranging from AI-driven platforms, renewable energy innovations, agritech applications, to cybersecurity tools designed for Nigeria’s unique context. The exhibition booths were alive with demos, pitches, and networking. Investors and Tech CEOs scouted for the next big idea, while students and young innovators soaked in the atmosphere, eager to learn from experts. I also attended the Startup Pitch Competition, where young entrepreneurs pitched their ideas to a a global panel of judges. The creativity and problem-solving on display reaffirmed that Nigeria’s tech future is bright.
On Thursday, I honoured the invitation of the Lagos State Government by attending a rountable of Commissioners/Heads of ICT, Innovation and Digital Economy across the 36 states of the country. The event was hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Innovation and Technology, under the leadership of the Commissioner- Hon Olatunbosun Alake. We had a peer review among states on ICT penetration, e-governance, digital inclusion, fintech regulations, communications infrastructure expansion and Cybersecurity.
During my Presentation to the body of State commissioners/Heads of ICT and innovation, i reeled out our Ondo state digital transformation roadmap, while also highlighting some of the achievements we have made in the ICT sector. I also unveiled further tech initiatives by the Ondo State Government that are in the pipeline which will materialize in a matter of months. I finally solicited partnership with other states across the country, particularly our host, Lagos state.
GITEX NIGERIA 2025 was an avenue to build bridges and foster collaboration that will outlive the event. Sense of purpose ran through every session and interaction at the event. My takeaway from the two-day event is that Technology is not just about gadgets, devices or softwares- it is about impacting lives, driving economic growth, and creating sustainable opportunities for generations to come.
Hon Tomide Akinribido
Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on ICT,
State Information Technology Agency.
September 6th, 2025.
