Nigeria is set to leverage the second edition of GITEX NIGERIA to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, attract strategic investment and deepen the country’s digital transformation agenda.
GITEX NIGERIA, described as West Africa’s largest technology, AI and startup event, will hold across Abuja and Lagos from August 31 to September 3, 2026, bringing together government leaders, global technology companies, investors, startups and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for expanding Nigeria’s digital economy.
Held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and endorsed by the Lagos State Government.
The second edition, themed “Beyond Connectivity, The Bridge to Sovereign Innovation,” is expected to provide a platform for advancing discussions around AI infrastructure, digital investment, innovation ecosystems, digital resilience and Nigeria’s quest for technological sovereignty.
The event comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to translate its digital policy ambitions into measurable outcomes through initiatives focused on digital skills development, connectivity, innovation and responsible AI adoption.
A major component of the government’s digital transformation drive is the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which has recorded 1.87 million registrations across all 774 local government areas.
More than 135,000 Nigerians have 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 as Nigeria works to expand its pool of technology talent.
The government is also advancing Project BRIDGE, a national ICT infrastructure initiative designed to expand connectivity and provide the digital backbone required to support economic growth and inclusion.
Project BRIDGE is expected to create up to 20,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs, train 5,000 Nigerian youths and increase internet penetration to more than 70 per cent.
The initiative is also expected to extend high-speed connectivity to millions of households, businesses, schools and hospitality establishments in underserved communities.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the government’s ambition was to use the momentum generated by such initiatives to build the foundations for digital sovereignty and a globally competitive AI-powered economy.
Tijani said Nigeria was seeking to move beyond being a consumer of technology by developing the capacity to produce and export digital technologies and AI solutions.
He said, “Our aspiration ahead of this year’s edition is clear: to solidify the foundations Africa needs for digital sovereignty, technological self-determination, and a globally competitive AI-powered economy.”
The GITEX NIGERIA Government Leadership and AI Summit, which opens in Abuja on August 31, will bring together ministers, governors and regulators to examine critical issues surrounding digital public infrastructure and the future of AI in West Africa.
The Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference and Startup Festival will also return, while FDX NIGERIA by GITEX will make its debut with a focus on finance and digital asset exchange.
The new platform is expected to promote financial inclusion, support the integration of businesses into the formal economy and create stronger links between emerging technologies, financial innovation and global capital.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state remained a major hub for technological transformation, talent, capital and innovation, adding that hosting GITEX NIGERIA would further support efforts to build a smarter, more connected and globally competitive African economy.
For NITDA Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Nigeria’s digital future would depend not only on the technologies adopted but also on the resilience, trust and governance frameworks established around them.
Abdullahi said GITEX NIGERIA would provide an environment for stakeholders to accelerate responsible AI adoption, develop a secure digital economy and unlock new opportunities for innovation and economic growth.
He added that the global expertise, investment and partnerships generated through the event would help shape an AI ecosystem that is secure, inclusive and capable of supporting Nigeria and West Africa’s long-term competitiveness.
The organisers said GITEX NIGERIA would also mobilise international alliances and strategic partnerships to scale AI infrastructure, strengthen digital investment, advance innovation ecosystems and support the region’s long-term pursuit of digital sovereignty.
The event is therefore expected to serve not only as a showcase of Nigeria’s technological progress but also as a major platform for connecting innovation with investment, talent with opportunity and digital policy with practical economic outcomes.
