The 36th GITEX Technology Week also included the GITEX Global Startup Movement, which hosted more than 420 startups from 60 countries, and more than 1,000 entrepreneurs under one roof to invest, sell, and learn. NITDA also sponsored about 13 of Nigeria’s game-changing startups.
To promote international interest in ICT opportunities in Nigeria and across the continent, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) hosted an Africa Investment Forum at the recently concluded 36th GITEX Technology Week.
“From digital oilfields running on drones and robotics, to smart grids distributing electricity generated from renewable energy, the energy sector in Nigeria and Africa hosts tremendous investment opportunities. GITEX Technology Week’s Africa Investment Forum provided the opportunity for companies to find new investment opportunities under one roof,” said Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
With its focus on emerging markets, the GITEX Global Startup Movement is attracted a strong field of innovative entrepreneurs from Africa, among which included these startups from Nigeria, Geniigames, Wecyclers, DIYLaw, Astrosand, Phinnx, Rotors and Pilots, ebooks, Chowhub, Jaramobile, GoMyWay, Pinfoot, ArtNigeria and Logical Address, showcasing and competing for $160,000.
“Dubai connects Africa to global investors and companies. The energy, oil, and gas sector in Nigeria and Africa is rapidly undergoing digital transformation, and key players can discover the latest innovations and business opportunities at GITEX Technology Week,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President for Exhibitions and Events Management at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which hosts GITEX Technology Week.
In an Interview at the African Investment Forum, the Hon. Minister of Communication, Barr. Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, said, “although the Government has no business with business. But what our government does its best to encourage Investors, entrepreneurs and startups to be able to do their best and become the best that they can. The Nigerian government is going out of its way now to really encourage all startups and one of the you know very positive steps that government has done is to financially support 16 startups to come from Nigeria to this place all expenses fully paid by government.”
Additionally, he said, “we are going beyond that to also, do a register and a handbook of all these startups, all their contacts, their names, their information about what they are doing, to pack it together and distribute them to the international community for both Nigerian potential investors and potential foreign investors would have access to all of these startups and we believe this sufficient for them to starts collaborating and developing the ideas that our startups have.”
The GITEX Global Startup Movement ended with positive partnerships for startups like Geniigames, who are in talks with the pitch competition winners Acacus Technologies, a Dubai based tracking solution startup on potential collaboration.