Global technology figures and West African political leaders have gathered in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, for the opening of the region’s largest technology and artificial intelligence summit.
The inauguration of GITEX Nigeria on Monday launched a four-day programme designed to position the country as a major producer of technology and indigenous AI models, rather than simply a consumer of foreign tools.
Held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the event spans both Abuja and the commercial hub of Lagos, bringing together public-sector leaders, international tech firms, and investors.
Focus on digital sovereignty.
Speaking at the opening of the Government Leadership & AI Summit, Nigerian officials stressed the need to build domestic compute power and keep data hosted within Africa.
Kashifu Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said achieving “true digital sovereignty” required investing in local infrastructure and talent.
“We are building the policy, cloud infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks necessary to host our data locally, deploy AI responsibly, and enhance overall national productivity,” Mr. Abdullahi said. “GITEX Nigeria positions our country as a global force shaping the international tech ecosystem.”
Government officials noted that the majority of Africa’s current AI processing takes place on servers in Europe, creating issues with high latency, higher costs, and data privacy.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the initiative aligned with national efforts to expand the economy to $1tn (£750bn).
“We must now move far beyond basic connectivity to build true indigenous innovation,” Mr. Akume said. “This is our opportunity for a decisive transition from being mere consumers of foreign technology to becoming global producers.”
Investment focus moves to Lagos
Addressing the conference, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, argued that international investors were underestimating the potential of West Africa’s computing and public-sector technology markets.
“Most international capital looks at Nigeria and sees consumer fintech. That was the last decade’s trade,” Mr. Sanwo-Olu said, adding that Lagos is uniquely placed to host data center campuses due to its major subsea internet cable landings.
He also pointed to the state’s efforts to digitize public administration—including healthcare, transport, and land registries—as a major opportunity for global software providers.
The event transitions on Wednesday to Lagos for a two-day tech expo and startup conference, where more than 200 international venture capital funds—managing a combined $200bn in assets—are expected to meet local entrepreneurs.
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