As the curtains fall on the 41st edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, GITEX, numerous visitors to the Nigerian pavillion have commended the country’s undeniable contribution to digital info-tech.
Dr. Leo Garcia from Spain and Dr. Adebo Odusina, a Nigerian living in the UAE said the country’s youth population is a major advantage to Nigeria’s remarkable contribution and performance in digital information technology.
The Nigeria Pavillion at the 2022 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, GITEX, was a beehive of activities as investors, collaborators, digital technology geeks, startups and visitors trouped in to make enquiries, seal deals, learn about the various agencies and how they can collaborate.
Others however, were drawn to the local Nigerian snacks on offer.
Visitors thronged the Nigerian pavilion just to grab a bite of the various food items from the groundnut cookies popularly called kulikuli, to the specially made coconut flakes and kola nuts.
Shinning Light
Nigerian representatives also lit the stand during their presentations.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami was on the green stage to project Nigeria’s immense digital talent while the Director General of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi told the world that Nigeria is the next digital talent superpower.
To drive home their points, they mentioned how one of the country’s Startups clinched an 8000-dollar price for digital logistics innovation, while another sealed a million dollar deal.
Nigeria is the Winner of the challenge of Mobility & Smart Innovation!
The Nigerian delegation at #GITEXGLOBAL2022 led by the Chairman, @WSISprocess Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim with Nigerian Startup, ShapShap who emerged as Global Best under the Mobility & Smart Cities Innovation. pic.twitter.com/oAmI0OMYV0— Prof. Isa Ali Pantami (@ProfIsaPantami) October 13, 2022
During the closing ceremony, the Director General of Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency NITDA, Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, said that GITEX 2022 has so far been the best for agencies under the Communications and Digital Economy Ministry.
He noted that Nigerian agencies in attendance shared valuable experiences and transferred requisite ICT knowledge among other world tech agencies, corporations, and governments.
“Digital transformation is a journey, in Africa Nigeria is leading if you check all indices in Africa Nigeria is in the first position, when it comes to the ecosystem the technology, the funding, and the talent Nigeria is in the forefront, yes, we are not where the other developed countries are and I think we have all the necessary ingredients we need to be there,” he said.
“What we need to do is to create a more enabling environment and the government is doing a lot of that. If you check in terms of policy, regulations, and laws Nigeria is ahead of many African countries. In Africa, we talk about the big four, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa, Nigeria is way ahead of the others.
“Nigeria takes about 35 to 36% of the investment coming to Africa, Nigeria has a strong ecosystem, we have about 7 unicorn companies in Africa 5 are from Nigeria, more than 3000 startups are in the country 481 big ones and many more coming”.
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, Director General @NITDANigeria, speaking on the "Innovation African Startups can bring" to the world during a sideline Panel Session organised by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).#NigeriaAtGITEX2022 pic.twitter.com/cbhCjKPdl9
— NITDA Nigeria (@NITDANigeria) October 14, 2022
Drone Technology
On the use of drone technology, Mr. Abdullahi said citizens need to get the right licensing to use it, but “drone use is allowed in Nigeria for civil purposes like medical, logistics, I know some startups working in that and they have acquired the right licenses to operate within Nigeria”.
For his part, the Director General of Galaxy Backbone Nigeria, Professor Muhammad Bello Abubakar, said Nigeria’s performance has continuously improved with each edition of GITEX.
He noted that Nigeria’s digital economy sector has truly come of age, with the amazing inventions its start-ups and government agencies showcased at GITEX.
“We have done a lot, we have established new partnerships with some corporations the old ones we have made them stronger and so truly as far as digital transformation in Nigeria is concerned we are on the way and we will definitely reach the destination”.
“This type of event is one that we can definitely begin to have in Nigeria already we have the Nigeria as you know. This is a seed that has been planted to reach the level we have attained. Going further I want to believe we will keep at it, the whole idea is about the sustainability of what we are doing and improving on it like the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy would say, set a target and belittle the target.
“We are in the fourth industrial revolution and globally it is revolving around ICT as a driver,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Mr. Aliyu Abubakar Abdulaziz, said the agency saw many world-class tech inventions, and also showcased its spectacular ICT innovations at the GITEX event.
“Many people were mesmerized by how we have digitalized the process of the National Identity Number, NIN, registration in Nigeria. In fact, the organizers of this GITEX are proud of what Nigeria showcased in their global exhibition.”
The Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, @ProfIsaPantami in a group photo with the governing board chairmen of @NIPOSTNG & @NigComSat1R during Day 3 of the exhibition taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.#NigeriaAtGITEX2022 pic.twitter.com/E7GaaPrQTt
— Fed Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy (@FMoCDENigeria) October 12, 2022
Abdullaziz explained that “living in the 21st-century one needs a mobile phone, broadband, a wallet, and a national identification number, NIN, to link to all the other services, one of our mandates is to harmonize all the other identities so this is just one of the steps we have taken and we are in the right direction”.
Growing Strong
In addition, the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, Maimuna Yahaya Abubakar, congratulated Nigeria’s entire delegation to GITEX2022 and noted that Nigeria is growing strong in the ICT world and revolutionizing the tech-world.
She said: “There is no denying that an ICT revolution is taking place in Nigeria. The appointment of Prof Ali Isa Pantami as the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy and the coming of Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi as NITDA’s Director General are game changers.
“All the CEOs of NCC, Galaxy Backbone, NIMC among others have done a lot in promoting the growth of indigenous ICT technology, through supporting Nigerian start-ups. On the other hand, we at NIPOST too, by participating in this year’s GITEX, have gained insight on the development of new technologies for enhancing its servicing”.
The poster boy for Nigeria’s talented digital Startups powerhouse, Chief Executive Officer of ShapShap, Khalil Halilu, who won the eight thousand dollar price money for ‘Mobility and Smart Cities Innovator’ in the final of the Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition at GITEX 2022 said:
“I feel good and I appreciate the support, at the time of the presentation we were on the stage as Nigerians. Also, it shows there is room for improvement and for Nigeria to play on the global stage as far as technology is concerned we are not left behind and this calls for encouragement for other startups like shapshap to be given the opportunity to play on a global scale”
When asked what he will spend his prize money on, he said “My team will decide.”
He expressed appreciation for the support of Prof. Isa Pantami, who attended the award ceremony where he was honored.
GITEX, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, is the annual enterprise technology and global digital transformation event in the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event underpins the rapid technology-driven transformations, investments, and projects shaping the economies of the Middle East, Africa, and the world.
As delegates return to their countries after five days of networking, showcasing their best, discovering new innovations and inventions, attracting investments, and sealing deals worth millions of dollars, the Dubai government is congratulating itself for adding value to its economy with another successful hosting of GITEX.
Attention now shifts to Morocco for GITEX Africa in May 2023.
