Africa is entering a new digital renaissance—fueled by innovation, startup ambition, and a renewed commitment to infrastructure and governance. At the epicenter of this revolution is GITEX Nigeria 2025, a national-scale, multi-location technology conference that aims to ignite Nigeria’s role as a leading digital powerhouse across the continent and beyond.
This year’s edition is more ambitious than ever: combining government, enterprise, startups, and investment stakeholders across two cities, three dynamic events, and six months of programming. Whether you’re a startup founder, tech enthusiast, policymaker, or investor, GITEX Nigeria 2025 offers unmatched access to Africa’s emerging tech future.
🌍 What Is GITEX Nigeria?
GITEX Nigeria is the regional chapter of the globally acclaimed GITEX tech exhibition held in Dubai, and is fast becoming the premier platform for Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions. Orchestrated in partnership with NITDA, ONDI, and global innovation leaders, it mirrors the global movement toward national digital transformation—localized for Nigerian opportunity and scale.
In 2025, GITEX Nigeria is structured as a dual-city tech convocation:
- Abuja: A focused, high-level policy summit for governance, AI, and public-sector digitization.
- Lagos: A vibrant ecosystem-led tech and startup exhibition featuring thousands of professionals, creators, and investors.
📅 GITEX Nigeria 2025 Dates & Locations
Here’s the breakdown of this year’s programming across both cities:
1. Government Leadership & AI Summit – Abuja
- 📍 Venue: Transcorp Hilton, Abuja
- 📆 Date: September 1, 2025
- 🔐 Format: Invite-only, closed-door leadership summit
2. Tech Expo & Future Economy Conference – Lagos
- 📍 Venue: Eko Hotel Convention Centre
- 📆 Dates: September 3–4, 2025
3. GITEX Startup Festival – Lagos
- 📍 Venue: Landmark Centre, Victoria Island
- 📆 Dates: September 3–4, 2025
🎯 Abuja: The Digital Governance Frontier
The Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja is a strategic, high-level dialogue that brings together decision-makers from government, enterprise, and academia to shape the policy frameworks and digital blueprints for Nigeria’s future.
Key focal areas include:
- The role of Artificial Intelligence in public governance
- Smart cities and digital infrastructure
- Cybersecurity policies, data protection, and regulatory innovation
- AI for national defense, public services, and federal transformation
This exclusive summit will feature ministers, commissioners, CEOs, and global advisors. It serves as a platform to unveil Nigeria’s next chapter in AI legislation and leadership.
“AI in governance is not just about automation—it’s about empowering smarter nations with scalable decisions, faster systems, and trust-driven services.” – [GITEX Speaker, 2025]
💡 Lagos: The Pulse of Africa’s Tech Economy
While Abuja steers policy, Lagos becomes the ground zero for innovation, business, and startup networking.
The Tech Expo & Future Economy Conference takes over the Eko Hotel Convention Centre with:
- Over 100+ global speakers
- 3,000+ delegates from 40+ countries
- 100+ tech exhibitors across sectors
Key Themes:
- Smart Infrastructure: Urban mobility, AI‑enabled utilities, 5G and cloud-native city networks
- Digital Financial Inclusion: Fintech, open banking, mobile payments, cross-border platforms
- Next-Gen Governance: How AI, data science, and quantum computing can support nation-building
- Connectivity & Sovereignty: Nigeria’s broadband agenda and sovereign digital networks
This isn’t just a trade show—it’s a roadmap of where Nigeria’s trillion-naira digital economy is headed.
🚀 The GITEX Startup Festival – Nigeria’s Largest Innovation Arena
In parallel, the GITEX Startup Festival at Landmark Centre in Lagos showcases Nigeria’s most disruptive startups and connects them with local and global investors, VCs, accelerators, and enterprise buyers.
It’s where the future is born—on the exhibition floor, in pitch rooms, and within founder-to-founder breakout spaces.
Key Highlights:
- Over 1,000 curated startups
- 300+ investors with over $200 billion in AUM
- Supernova Challenge – awarding 6 category winners and 1 ultimate startup champion
- AI 100 Nigeria – spotlighting the top AI startups for global acceleration
- Dedicated startup mentoring pods, product launches, and demo sessions
Industry Focus Areas:
- FinTech & DeFi
- HealthTech & BioAI
- AgriTech & Food Systems
- ClimateTech & Energy
- Cybersecurity
- Data Centers
- EdTech
- Creative & Entertainment Tech
- Retail & E-Commerce Tech
The Startup Festival is open to founders, ecosystem builders, university innovators, and talent accelerators ready to raise the bar for Africa’s tech journey.
🔁 The Road to GITEX: National Startup Roadshow
One of the most exciting pre-events is the Startup Roadshow, running from June to August 2025. Hosted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—Lagos, Enugu, Uyo, Abuja, Gombe, and Kano—it’s an ambitious initiative by ONDI and NITDA to unearth hidden startup gems across the country.
Selected startups from this roadshow earn fully-sponsored exhibition spots at the GITEX Lagos Startup Festival—turning local ambition into global visibility.
🔍 If you’re a founder in any zone, apply via programs.startup.gov.ng/gitexnigeria
🧠 Speakers: Shaping the Continent’s Innovation Agenda
This year’s speaker lineup features some of Africa’s most respected voices, along with global collaborators:
Featured Leaders:
- Bosun Tijani – Nigeria’s Minister of Digital Innovation
- Ralph Mupita – CEO, MTN Group
- Florence Eshalomi – UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria
- Mories Atoki – CEO, ABC Health
- Tunde Onakoya – ChessInSlums
- Iyinoluwa Aboyeji – Future Africa
- Lola Aworanti-Ekugo, Jude “M.I” Abaga, Maya Horgan-Famodu, Karl Toriola, and more
Expect conversations on generational wealth, infrastructure, AI ethics, youth talent acceleration, and cultural creativity in the age of automation.
💸 Investor Opportunity: Africa’s New Deal Room
More than 300 investment firms will attend this year’s event, including early-stage VCs, growth equity providers, PE firms, and blended finance institutions.
Key Programs:
- 10x Founders & Ventures Series – exclusive matchmaking with curated startups
- Investor Concierge – a bespoke platform matching investors to startups aligned with their verticals
- Panels on Seed-to-Series A capital, DFI/NGO partnerships, and AI venture scaling
This is the largest investment-focused startup gathering in Nigeria’s history—and a powerful moment for anyone ready to raise or deploy capital.
📊 Market Growth Signals: Why GITEX Matters Now
Nigeria’s tech sectors are not just trending—they are statistically exploding. Here’s a snapshot:
| Sector | 2024 Market Size | Projected 2029 Size |
|---|---|---|
| Data Centres | $225M | $420M |
| E-Commerce | $6.4B | $10B |
| Digital Finance | $21.3B | $31.3B |
| HealthTech | $1B | $1.8B+ |
| EdTech | $3.6B (by 2025) | $6B+ |
(Source: GITEX Nigeria Market Overview)
What this means: founders, engineers, designers, and developers in Nigeria are no longer building “catch-up” technology. They are creating category-defining products in global growth markets.
📝 How to Participate
Whether you’re attending in person, showcasing, or partnering, here are ways to plug in:
✅ Register as an Attendee – visit.gitexnigeria.ng
✅ Apply as a Startup – Join the roadshow or Lagos festival
✅ Join as an Investor – Get listed in the 10× Concierge Program
✅ Exhibit as a Company – Showcase your solution to Africa’s largest tech audience
✅ Speak or Moderate – Apply as a speaker or media partner
🎟️ Pro Tip: All tickets and registration are handled via visit.gitexnigeria.ng
🎤 Final Thoughts: GITEX Is Nigeria’s Defining Tech Moment
GITEX Nigeria 2025 is more than a conference—it’s a declaration that Nigeria is ready. Ready to build sovereign digital systems, to shape the frontier of AI, to export startups at scale, and to unify enterprise, government, and community under one innovation umbrella.
For African founders, it’s an open invitation to take the global stage.
For global tech players, it’s a call to witness Africa’s digital leap.
And for policy leaders, it’s an opportunity to architect inclusive progress.
💡Whether you’re an engineer in Lagos, a startup in Enugu, a policymaker in Abuja, or an investor in Nairobi—GITEX Nigeria is where the future meets the present.
