Gulf IT Exhibition 2022: The Most Exhilarating Outing Ever- DG NITDA
Gloria Thomas, Dubai
The achievements of the Nigerian delegation to the 2022 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, GITEX, have been termed the most exhilarating by the Director General of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency, Inuwa Abdullahi.
Abdullahi said “2022 is the most exhilarating outing we’ve had we came with the largest number of startups, 33 in all from Nigeria participating, 8 are among the finalist for the competition, they go for the final pitching tomorrow and we are hoping some of them will be among the best winners in their categories.
“Also we have closed alot of deals, a startup closed deals of up to 10 million dollars and the minister signed an MOU on behalf of the federal government with Microsoft to train five million Nigerians on hi -tech skills”.
The DG NITDA said talent was one of the most needed aspects of technology, noting that Nigeria has competitive advantage when it comes to talent, and above all, the country has the potential to be the global talent power considering that it is an 8.3 trillion dollar market.
On the spectacular dispaly at the global exhibition, especially in the automobile sector and the rise of smart cars, Mr. Abdullahi said that’s the future of the industry.
“The self driving cars, the electric cars and so on, already NITDA is partnering with the Nigeria automobile authority working with startups that have ideas on artificial intelligence, AI, ideas on self driving cars to come up with innovation that will help to grow the Nigerian industry. Two years ago the Nigeria automobile agency unveiled the made in Nigeria electric car and NITDA was there, we are partnering with them to get startups, we are doing the innovation challenge to get startups with ideas in that sector”.
However, the NITDA boss said the challenge facing the sector was tech capability;
“How do we get to organise such an event in Nigeria? Today we discussed with the Dubai World Trade Centre and they are willing to partner with us they are willing to come and participate in the digital Nigeria conference and they want us to start hosting GITEX Africa in Nigeria. We have opened that conversation and when we domesticate this kind of event in Nigeria we will make our eco-system stronger.
“It is not about coming, what are we taking back home, we are taking alot back home, this year, we are taking investment, We are coming with winners, and we are taking the idea of this kind of conference taking place in Nigeria”.
Also, Mr. Inuwa Abdullahi who was visibly elated and satisfied with Nigeria’s participation said the Dubai world trade centre has accepted to include the Africa Business Forum on the calender of GITEX and have Africans under one roof discussing digital technology through the African lens.
Meanwhile, Mr. Aristotle Onuma a director with the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency. NITDA, said GITEX has brought to the fore, the evolving and dynamic start-up and innovative eco- syatem that is happening in Nigeria at this particular time.
He sees the commendation accorded Nigeria during the tech surge seminar as an acknowledgement of the role the country is playing in the digital information technology sector.
“This GITEX for me is the best GITEX I have ever attended because it created the opportunity for Nigeria to market its products and its strengths as it strives to be the talent hub of Africa to the entire globe”.
On the visit of the NITDA team to the HUAWEI stand Mr Onuma said their dedication and investment to research and development is a learning curve as “the company dedicates 54 percent of their resources to research and development which has given rise to the kind of innovation they are Churning out”.
Hauwa Abu
