GITEX Nigeria: FG Bets on AI, Digital Skills to Unlock $1trn African Economy

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi 

"The country’s digital future would depend not only on technological adoption but also on the resilience, trust and governance frameworks built around emerging technologies." Inuwa Abdullahi DG NITDA 

.... Says "GITEX Nigeria would facilitate the global expertise, investment and partnerships required to develop a secure, inclusive and competitive AI ecosystem."

Nigeria is positioning itself to play a leading role in Africa’s emerging artificial intelligence economy, with the Federal Government set to leverage the second edition of GITEX Nigeria to attract investment, strengthen digital infrastructure and accelerate the development of home-grown technology solutions.

Gov Babajide Sanwolu

GITEX Nigeria, described as West Africa’s largest technology, artificial intelligence and startup event, will hold from August 31 to September 3, 2026, across Abuja and Lagos under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The event, organised by KAOUN International in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is expected to bring together global technology companies, investors, policymakers, startups and other stakeholders.

The 2026 edition, themed “Beyond Connectivity: The Bridge to Sovereign Innovation,” comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build the infrastructure, talent and policy environment required to compete in the rapidly expanding global AI economy.

The Federal Government said its digital transformation drive was already yielding measurable results, citing the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, which has recorded 1.87 million registrations across all 774 local government areas.

More than 135,000 Nigerians have reportedly been trained through three cohorts, while over 300,000 people have accessed learning through community resources. The programme has also created 15,000 job and opportunity pathways.

The government is equally advancing Project BRIDGE, a national ICT infrastructure initiative designed to expand broadband connectivity and support digital inclusion.

The project is expected to create up to 20,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs, train 5,000 young Nigerians and raise internet penetration to over 70 per cent, while extending high-speed connectivity to millions of households, businesses, schools and hospitality establishments in underserved communities.

Dr Bosun Tijani
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the government’s ambition was to lay the foundation for digital sovereignty and transform Nigeria from a consumer of technology into a producer and exporter of digital technologies and AI solutions.

He said GITEX Nigeria would provide a platform for Nigeria and other African countries to build strategic alliances capable of scaling AI infrastructure, attracting investment and strengthening digital resilience.

The event will open in Abuja on August 31 with the GITEX Nigeria Government Leadership and AI Summit, bringing together ministers, governors, regulators and technology leaders to deliberate on digital public infrastructure, AI adoption and governance.

The programme will then move to Lagos from September 2 to 3, featuring the Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference, Startup Festival and the inaugural FDX Nigeria by GITEX, which focuses on finance and digital asset exchange.

Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the country’s digital future would depend not only on technological adoption but also on the resilience, trust and governance frameworks built around emerging technologies.

According to him, GITEX Nigeria would facilitate the global expertise, investment and partnerships required to develop a secure, inclusive and competitive AI ecosystem.

Nigeria’s growing digital ecosystem, supported by initiatives such as 3MTT, Project BRIDGE and the National AI Strategy, is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to benefit from Africa’s projected $1 trillion AI economic opportunity by 2035.

With Abuja serving as the centre of government and policy discussions and Lagos as the hub for technology, startups, finance and investment, organisers said the four-day event would reinforce Nigeria’s position as a major gateway for Africa’s digital transformation and emerging AI economy.