Africa’s banking and financial sector is set to enter a new phase of digital transformation as GITEX NIGERIA introduces FDX by GITEX, a new platform designed to strengthen financial infrastructure, expand financial inclusion and attract investment across the continent.
The platform will be held on September 3, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, as part of the second edition of GITEX NIGERIA, which will take place in Abuja and Lagos from August 31 to September 3.
Held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, GITEX NIGERIA is positioned as West Africa’s largest technology, artificial intelligence and startup event.
The event is supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), endorsed by the Lagos State Government and organised by KAOUN International.
FDX by GITEX is expected to bring together financial regulators, institutional investors, technology companies, enterprises and high-growth startups to explore ways of increasing capital flows, expanding market participation and accelerating digital financial services across Africa.
The platform comes against the backdrop of projections that Africa’s digital payments economy could reach $1.5 trillion by 2030, with emerging technologies increasingly reshaping access to financial services and cross-border transactions.
Speaking ahead of the event, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said the state was committed to building a technology-driven financial ecosystem capable of expanding access and supporting economic growth.
Hamzat said FDX by GITEX would provide an avenue for policymakers and innovators to shape forward-looking financial policies while promoting digital infrastructure, financial inclusion and seamless cross-border trade.
He added that policies aligned with emerging technologies would help empower entrepreneurs and support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy.
The event will also focus on the mobilisation of institutional capital to support high-impact investments and strategic sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr Armstrong Ume Takang, said achieving Nigeria’s $1 trillion economic ambition would require effective mobilisation of institutional capital beyond policy formulation.
Takang said MOFI was working towards professionalising the management of government-owned assets while pursuing a long-term objective of building a ₦100 trillion portfolio capable of catalysing investment and creating sustainable national value.
He described FDX by GITEX as an opportunity to connect policymakers, investors and innovators and develop partnerships capable of accelerating Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Discussions at the platform will cover digital assets, decentralised finance, intelligent payments, institutional capital, capital markets, cross-border finance, digital identity, regulatory compliance and financial infrastructure.
Among the sessions scheduled for the event is “Access to Real World Assets and the Rewiring of Capital Markets in Africa,” which will examine ways of connecting Africa’s assets and growing pools of capital with investable markets.
Another session, “Trust by Design: Navigating the Security Paradoxes Holding Back Digital Assets and CBDCs,” will examine the balance between security, innovation and institutional confidence as digital assets and central bank digital currencies gain wider attention.
International speakers expected at the event include Jean Kambuni, Deputy Director, Capital Markets, Nairobi International Financial Centre, Kenya; Erwin Anet N’guetta, Chief Digital Officer for Operational Excellence, Digital Transformation and Innovation, National Bank of Investment, Côte d’Ivoire; and Henry Amadiegwu, Chief Information Officer, Zenith Bank UK.
Amadiegwu said the adoption of artificial intelligence, automation, modern infrastructure and technological integration would be critical to developing secure, resilient and compliant digital financial ecosystems across Africa.
He said the significance of FDX by GITEX lay in its ability to bring global stakeholders together to support Africa’s transition from legacy financial platforms to modern systems based on innovation, security, resilience and regulatory compliance.
Technology companies are also expected to showcase solutions aimed at expanding digital payment acceptance, facilitating cross-border commerce and improving access to financial services.
Among them is Mastercard, which will demonstrate solutions including Mastercard Move, a service connecting more than 200 countries and territories across 150 currencies to facilitate cross-border payments.
The company will also showcase payment solutions such as Tap on Phone, QR-on-Card and Pay by Link, aimed at enabling businesses to accept digital payments without relying on traditional payment infrastructure.
Mastercard West Africa Country Manager, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal, said collaboration between the public and private sectors would be essential to unlocking inclusive digital growth in Nigeria and across the region.
Other banking and digital finance exhibitors expected at GITEX NIGERIA include BMONI, Edge Penny, GOSAR, Monica Technologies, Moove Payment, Raenest Technology Services and Softgem.
The organisers said FDX by GITEX is intended to bridge the gap between financial policy, technological innovation and investment, with the broader objective of expanding access to capital and digital financial services across Africa.
