Africa's prominence in digital transformation received a significant boost during the first day of GITEX AFRICA 2023. Tech leaders from around the world joined forces with their African counterparts to collaborate and demonstrate their commitment to accelerating investment opportunities across the continent.
The event has attracted a large number of attendees, including government officials and private sector executives. With 45,000 square meters of exhibition space, GITEX AFRICA has become a platform for celebrating collective achievements and advancing the ambitions of a continent striving to enhance its entrepreneurial and innovative economy.
Forging Africa's ‘Silicon Valley’
During the event, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State in Nigeria, delivered a keynote speech in which he highlighted Africa's rapid trajectory toward becoming the next “Silicon Valley.” He emphasized the importance of investing in African youth, who constitute over 60% of the continent's population.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also highlighted Lagos' position as home to some of Africa's largest data centers. Initiatives such as the Start-Up Act 2022 and the Knowledge, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (KITE) Project in the Yaba suburb are propelling Lagos and Nigeria into a global innovation hub.
GITEX AFRICA’s Debut and Growth
In its inaugural edition, GITEX AFRICA showcases over 900 exhibiting companies and start-ups seeking valuable connections for business development. The event serves as a learning platform for exploring opportunities in the rising digital economy worldwide. Nigerian start-up TalentQL is among the 60+ companies seeking to scale up operations and collaborate with fellow innovators and investors. TalentQL specializes in helping companies build top-tier teams by hiring and managing tech talent remotely.
Africa's flourishing fintech sector is projected to reach revenues of US$65 billion by 2030, growing at an unprecedented rate. GITEX AFRICA’s Fintech Summit provides a platform for discussing advanced solutions that can propel the continent forward in terms of financial inclusion and technological development. Aalya Ghouli, CEO of DIGIFI and DIGISERV at BNP Paribas, highlighted the opportunity to accelerate digitalization in Africa and position the continent as a key player in technological innovation.
Start-Up Supremacy and the Supernova Challenge
GITEX AFRICA’s Supernova Challenge, a start-up pitch competition with US$100,000 in cash prizes, is set to showcase some of the world's most innovative start-ups. Seventy disruptive start-ups from 31 countries have been shortlisted to compete in front of a judging panel of global venture capitalists, angel investors and accelerators.