The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced a strategic partnership with KAOUN International to host the first-ever Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Nigeria.
Okay.ng reports that the landmark event, themed “Forging the Rise of Digital Nigeria”, will take place between September 1st and 4th, 2025, with Abuja and Lagos as the host cities.
Unveiling the Local Organising Committee (LOC) at NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, the agency said the committee includes representatives from key public and private sector stakeholders, reflecting a unified national effort to stage a globally impactful tech conference on Nigerian soil.
GITEX Nigeria 2025 is expected to attract over 20,000 participants, 1,000 startups, and 100 international investors, creating an unprecedented platform for innovation, investment, and global partnerships within Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Abuja edition will focus on governance and public sector innovation with a special Government Leadership and AI Summit, which aims to bring together policymakers, global tech executives, and national leaders to explore digital infrastructure, AI adoption, and the future of public services.
In contrast, Lagos—the country’s commercial capital—will serve as a hub for showcasing Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, connecting investors and startups, and highlighting innovation across sectors such as Fintech, Agritech, Edtech, Healthtech, Telecoms, e-Commerce, and Data Centres.
Speaking at the event, Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, represented by Mr. Olawumi Oladejo, Director of the IT Infrastructure Solutions Department, expressed optimism about the transformative potential of hosting GITEX in Nigeria.
“We all know the positive impact that hosting this kind of event will bring to the country. It will boost our international standing and scale our local businesses and tourism. This event is part of our way of implementing a major pillar—Forging Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations—of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027),” he said.
He further noted that this initiative directly supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and aligns with Nigeria’s digital transformation aspirations.
Highlighting the broader regional significance, Inuwa added, “GITEX has expanded to North Africa in Morocco. Now, with this partnership, Nigeria becomes the first West African country to host GITEX. If we can successfully host this, it will open the door for Nigeria to lead digital transformation efforts across the region.”
In his presentation, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, outlined the vision to elevate six local startups to global standards within three years through GITEX Nigeria. He said the conference would be anchored on three pillars: enablement, engagement, and knowledge.
He emphasized the investment potential the event brings, revealing that 78% of startups expect to receive funding from global investors as a result of their participation.
