Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its digital sovereignty and position itself as a producer of technology at the second edition of GITEX Nigeria which opened in Lagos on Wednesday, September 2nd.
In his opening remark, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said Nigeria needed to create an environment that allowed local innovators to develop solutions for the country’s digital economy.
According to him, the government is focusing on data, cloud, operational and artificial intelligence sovereignty to ensure Nigeria does not perpetually remain a mere consumer of foreign technology.
“We don’t want to be at the receiving end of technology; we want to be an active builder of the technology,” Abdullahi said.
The focus on digital sovereignty comes as Nigeria seeks to expand its technology ecosystem and develop homegrown solutions to address challenges across sectors.
The GITEX Nigeria inauguration also highlighted the signing of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 by President Bola Tinubu in June.
The new legislation replaced the 2007 NIMC Act and provides a modern framework for digital identity management, with the National Identification Number retained as Nigeria’s primary identity credential.
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, said stronger digital identity infrastructure would be critical to building trust in digital transactions and enabling cross-border commerce.
She said secure digital identities, public key infrastructure and digital public infrastructure would need to operate together to support seamless verification, contracts and payments across jurisdictions.
The development is particularly relevant as African countries seek to increase digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Lagos event marked the opening of the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo and Future Economy Summit, running from September 2 to 3.
More than 400 technology companies and startups are exhibiting at the event, alongside thousands of visitors and more than 200 investors managing about $200 billion in assets.
Trixie LohMirmand, CEO of GITEX, said the event was designed to connect Nigerian and African innovators with international investors, technology companies and potential partners.
She said Nigeria had the scale and Lagos had the ambition needed to compete for investment, foreign direct investment, knowledge and technology opportunities.
The event is part of GITEX Nigeria 2026, which began in Abuja on August 31 with the Government Leadership and AI Summit before moving to Lagos.
The broader programme focuses on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, digital infrastructure and other emerging technologies.
GITEX organisers said the event was aimed at accelerating digital transformation and helping position Africa as a producer of technology rather than solely a consumer.
Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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