By Nigeria has formally confirmed its status as GITEX Official Country Partner for 2014. It is going to Gitex not just as an exhibitor but also as the Centre of Focus in the biggest technology show in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA).
Its participation is significant. The country is going to Gitex not just as the most populous country of 175 million on the continent but as the biggest economy. Following the recent ‘rebasing’ of its economy, it has out-paced South Africa to become the biggest economy in Africa.
For this reason alone, investors’ eyes will be strongly upon it. Nigeria will have plenty of questions to answer from the global investment community. Those facilitating its presence at Gitex must therefore be ready with answers.
In the last 10 years, Nigeria’s economy has recorded pulsating growth in its technology sector. This sector, until this month, has not been officially computed in terms of value to the economy from statisticians’ point of view. Now that it has been done and the true value is within public space, offshore investors will ask deeper and wider questions. Those standing for the country at Gitex must be ready with a handy investors’ guide on a sector that holds the ace for change.
Yes! Nigeria is under-infrastructure, has an overwhelming population of unemployed young people, and battles with low global perception among others. All these and more constitute both challenges and opportunities. There are no better testimonials than the evidently success stories of the international investors that have entered the fray since 2001. There is still plenty of room for others. Nigeria beckons on all as the next big thing in ICT investment. ‘It is Open for Business.’ There is no other reason to be in Gitex, Dubai than this reason.
