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High-level colloquium to align political leadership with digital economy strategy as ICT sector contributes over 18% to Nigeria’s GDP.
As Nigeria prepares for the pivotal 2027 general elections, political leadership and digital economy strategy will converge at the 2026 West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC), scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 25, 2026. The conference will examine how emerging digital technologies can drive inclusive growth, governance reform and national competitiveness.
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At the centre of the policy conversation, Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will deliver the Keynote Focus Presentation at a high-level colloquium themed:
“Leveraging Technology for Development in Nigeria, 2027–2031: Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Technology, Politics and Nigeria’s Next Development Cycle
The 2026 WACC is anchored on the central theme:
“Reworking Nigeria Progressively into the Digital Economy with Emerging Digital Tools.”
The two-hour colloquium serves as the strategic policy hub of WACC 2026 and comes at a critical time, with national elections less than a year away. Nigeria’s ICT and telecommunications sector now contributes over 18 percent of GDP, positioning technology as one of the strongest drivers of economic activity and job creation.
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Professor Yilwatda, a technocrat and engineer with extensive public-sector experience, brings a unique blend of political leadership, governance insight and technology expertise to the platform, reinforcing the growing role of digital policy in national development planning.
Defining the APC’s Digital Economy Vision (2027–2031)
The colloquium provides a non-partisan but policy-forward platform to:
- Articulate the APC’s technology and digital economy blueprint for 2027–2031 as a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda
- Engage leaders across ICT, telecommunications, fintech, infrastructure, data, innovation and the wider private sector
- Strengthen alignment between political leadership and industry stakeholders
- Position technology-enabled governance as central to Nigeria’s next phase of development
Reacting to Yilwatda’s emergence as APC National Chairman, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, described him as a scholar and seasoned technocrat with proven contributions to public service and digital transformation.
Who Will Be in the Room
The colloquium will convene an influential cross-section of Nigeria’s economic and policy leadership, including:
- CEOs of ICT and telecommunications companies
- Leaders of banks, fintechs, insurance and insurtech firms
- Heads of regulatory bodies and government agencies
- Professional associations in ICT and engineering
- Digital education and skills development providers
- Venture capital and funding institutions
- Startup founders and innovation ecosystem leaders
- Heads of universities and research institutions
These stakeholders represent the key actors required to translate political vision into measurable, people-centred digital economy outcomes.
State Governors as Strategic Digital Economy Partners
Recognising the critical role of sub-national governments, WACC 2026 has extended special invitations to state governors to participate as Special Guests and Strategic Partners.
Strategic Benefits for Participating States
- Investor Pitch Opportunities: Governors can present state-level digital economy priorities and investment opportunities directly to ICT and telecom investors.
- Positioning as Digital Economy Destinations: Participation highlights state readiness in digital infrastructure, smart governance, youth skills and technology-enabled entrepreneurship.
- Access to Industry Leaders: Direct engagement with telecom operators, cloud providers, fintechs and infrastructure players for PPP opportunities.
- National and International Visibility: Extensive media exposure, interviews and digital promotion across industry platforms.
- Feature in Nigeria Digital Economy Report 2026: Participating states will be profiled in a special report distributed to policymakers, investors and international partners.
Governors will also participate in curated engagements, including the Digital Economy Leaders Business Lunch and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026 Recognition Ceremony.
A Legacy Platform for Digital Economy Thought Leadership
For more than two decades, the West Africa Convergence Conference has served as a premier thought-leadership platform connecting government policy with private-sector innovation across the region.
According to Dr. Sola Afolabi, Chairman of WACC and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy initiative, the 2026 edition reinforces the pivotal role of national political actors in shaping Nigeria’s next development cycle through technology-driven policy choices.
Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa since 2004, is a leading media and market intelligence organisation focused on Africa’s technology and digital economy landscape. Through platforms such as WACC and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy, the organisation connects policy, innovation and investment to drive sustainable development.
