From Abuja to Lagos, GITEX NIGERIA 2026 united the people building West Africa’s next digital economy, from AI and infrastructure to startups, investment and finance.
| GITEX NIGERIA closed with a major announcement: MINT AFRICA by GITEX, a new future finance platform bringing together money, innovation, new technology and transparency to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s financial economy, launching in Lagos during GITEX NIGERIA week from 28-30th September 2027. |
Building Nigeria’s AI Future
GITEX NIGERIA 2026 opened in Abuja with the Government Leadership & AI Summit, putting AI sovereignty, digital infrastructure, homegrown innovation and national transformation at the centre of discussions. A key message was that West Africa must develop the infrastructure, talent and capabilities to build—not merely consume—the technologies shaping the global economy.
“We don’t want to be at the receiving end of technology; we want to be an active builder of the technology.”
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, NITDA
Technology, Investment & Scale
In Lagos, the Tech Expo brought together more than 400 exhibiting companies and startups and 200+ investors managing US$200 billion in assets, showcasing innovations across AI, cloud, cybersecurity, fintech and digital infrastructure while creating opportunities for business, investment and international partnerships.
The Future Economy Conference focused on AI-first transformation, digital identity, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure and the systems needed to connect African innovation across borders.
“We possess the talent, innovation, and technical expertise required to shape our own digital transformation and ensure that it serves our integration and development objectives.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat
The Next Era of Finance
FDX by GITEX examined digital assets, tokenisation, AI-powered financial services, payments, infrastructure and cross-border regulation, with the focus shifting from whether technology will transform finance to how Africa can capture the value it creates.
“As we create digital tools that allow us to tokenise assets and make those assets widely available to investors, are Nigerians going to continue taking a back seat while others see the value, invest and benefit from the upside? Or are we going to become active participants in the evolving digital asset ecosystem?”
Dr Armstrong Ume Takang, CEO, MOFI
Founders Building What’s Next
The Startup Festival connected founders with investors, ecosystem leaders and international networks, creating pathways for African startups to scale beyond their home markets. GITEX NIGERIA’s broader ambition was to position African innovators not only as participants in the global technology economy, but as globally competitive producers.
“Nigeria has the scale; Lagos has the ambition and energy. We aim to grow collectively and put Africa at the top – not just as a consumer of AI, but as a globally competitive producer.”
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO, GITEX
Numeris Media is Media Partner to GITEX Nigeria – The Largest Tech & Startup Show in West Africa