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Nigeria’s digital transformation drive and its ambition to become a major artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Africa will come under the spotlight as the second edition of GITEX Nigeria holds from August 31 to September 3, 2026, in Abuja and Lagos.
The technology and startup event, organised under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will take place across Abuja and Lagos, bringing together government officials, regulators, technology companies, investors, startups and other stakeholders.
The 2026 edition, themed “Beyond Connectivity, The Bridge to Sovereign Innovation,” is being supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with the endorsement of the Lagos State Government.
According to the organisers, the event is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and support the development of infrastructure, talent, investment and responsible AI adoption as Africa positions itself to capture a projected $1 trillion AI-driven economic opportunity by 2035.
The event comes as Nigeria continues to implement programmes aimed at expanding digital skills and infrastructure.
Under the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the organisers said there have been 1.87 million registrations across all 774 local government areas, with more than 135,000 Nigerians trained through three cohorts.
They added that more than 300,000 people had accessed learning through community resources, while about 15,000 job and opportunity pathways had been created.
The government’s Project BRIDGE initiative is also expected to play a major role in expanding Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The project is designed to expand high-speed connectivity and strengthen the country’s ICT backbone, with targets including up to 20,000 direct jobs, more than 150,000 indirect jobs and the training of 5,000 Nigerian youths.
The initiative is also expected to help increase internet penetration beyond 70 per cent and extend high-speed connectivity to households, businesses, schools and hospitality establishments in underserved communities.
Speaking on the country’s digital ambitions, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said Nigeria’s focus was shifting towards building the foundations for digital sovereignty and a globally competitive AI economy.
“Building on the momentum forged through the implementation of Project BRIDGE, our national blueprint for expanding digital infrastructure and connecting communities across Nigeria, our aspiration ahead of this year’s edition is clear,” he said.
Tijani said Nigeria was seeking to promote equitable access to technology while positioning the country to move from being primarily a consumer of digital technologies to becoming a producer and exporter of digital solutions and AI.
The event will open in Abuja on August 31 with the GITEX Nigeria Government Leadership and AI Summit.
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The summit is expected to bring together ministers, governors, regulators, technology leaders and other stakeholders to discuss artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, governance, cybersecurity and the future of digital transformation.
The official GITEX Nigeria programme says the Abuja summit will focus on how AI, digital identity, cybersecurity, connectivity and digital governance can reshape public services and economies across Nigeria and West Africa.
The programme will then move to Lagos from September 2 to 3, where the Tech Expo and Future Economy Conference, Startup Festival and FDX Nigeria will take place.
The Tech Expo will showcase technologies spanning AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, smart cities and emerging technologies.
The Startup Festival is expected to connect startups with investors and potential business partners, while FDX Nigeria will focus on the future of finance, including digital payments, open banking, digital assets, financial inclusion and cross-border payments.
GITEX Nigeria said the event is expected to connect global technology companies, investors, government agencies, banks, startups and regulators.
Its investor programme currently lists more than 200 investors, representing over $200 billion in assets under management, while the wider event is expected to feature more than 1,000 startups and participants from multiple countries.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state’s position within Nigeria’s technology ecosystem made it a natural host for the event.
According to him, Lagos continues to attract technology talent, capital and innovation from across Africa and beyond.
He said hosting GITEX Nigeria would further support the state’s ambition to build a smarter, more connected and globally competitive economy.
NITDA Director-General and CEO, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said Nigeria’s digital future would depend not only on technology adoption but also on resilience, trust and effective governance.
He said GITEX Nigeria would provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss responsible AI adoption, cybersecurity and the development of a secure digital economy.
The organisers said the event would also help strengthen partnerships between government, technology companies, investors and startups as Nigeria seeks to deepen its role in Africa’s digital transformation.
GITEX Nigeria is part of the wider GITEX global network, with technology and startup events held across several countries.
