GITEX 2022: Nigerian Start-Ups Set For Awards as Pantami Opens Pavillion
Gloria Thomas, Dubai
Nigeria’s Minsiter of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami has formally opened Nigeria’ pavillion at the ongoing edition of GITEX Global, an annual enterprise technology and global digital transformation event, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Pantami, while inaugurating the pavilion, said it was an opportunity for Nigera to share with the world its capacity in the tech world and show itslf as a hub for technological advancement through start ups on the continent.
Pantami also revealed that four Nigerian tech innovators and start-ups have already booked their spots in the final of the GITEX tech-invention competition out of seven start ups that competed.
He said: “I am confident that the four Nigerian start-ups and innovators will surely give their foreign counterparts a run for their money. And will cart away the prizes at stake, during the grand finale of the exhibition”.
The minister added that Nigeria has 33 start-up businesses at the Forum with Lagos state South-West Nigeria sponsoring 15.
“So far, one of the start-ups has secured a 10 million dollars investment on the first day of the Forum ” the start-ups had added millions into the Nigerian economy and provided hundreds of young people with employment opportunities and I am very proud of them”.
According to Professor Pantami, the federal government has, in the last three years, launched several programmes, policies and projects that have boosted the Nigerian digital economy sub-sector.
His words: “We have recorded significant milestones and great accomplishments in our bid to drive Nigeria’s economy digitally. And our amazing successes are verifiable”.
The Director Generals of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA; Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC; National Identity Management Commission, NIMC; Nigeria communication satellite Limited and Galaxy Backbone, alongside some Nigerian private sector ICT entrepreneurs, joined the Minister in formally opening the pavilion for delegates, and foreign guests, at the event.
Hauwa Abu