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Institutional Support Builds for WACC 2026
Institutional momentum is gathering around the 15th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) 2026 and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy, scheduled to hold in Lagos in June 2026. Key federal institutions—including Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)—are leading confirmations, alongside industry leaders, investors, regulators, and state governments.
Organisers say the growing interest reflects the conference’s strategic relevance as Nigeria prepares for a pivotal election year and accelerates its transition into a digitally driven economy, with national elections expected in early 2027.
Technology, Policy, and Politics Converge Ahead of 2027
The keynote address at WACC 2026 will be delivered by Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He will headline a high-level policy colloquium themed:
“Leveraging Technology for Development in Nigeria, 2027–2031: Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Yilwatda described WACC as strategically aligned with the APC’s commitment to inclusive growth and national development planning beyond 2027.
“The opportunity to engage policymakers, industry leaders, technology innovators, investors, and ecosystem builders on the role of technology in accelerating national development is both timely and important,” he said, commending Knowhow Media International for sustaining a credible, non-partisan platform.
CEOs Spotlight People-Centred Digital Growth
A major feature of WACC 2026 will be the Executive Industry Notes by CEOs, built around the theme: Humanising Nigeria’s Digital Economy for People-Centred Impact.
MOFI’s Chief Executive Officer, Armstrong Ume Takang, will lead a CEO Pitch Session highlighting priority infrastructure and industrial projects, digital economy and innovation-led initiatives, investment and public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities, and technology-enabled governance strategies.
“The conference theme aligns with MOFI’s mandate as the Federal Government’s assets and investment management institution,” Takang said, affirming MOFI’s commitment to catalysing investment, fostering PPPs, and driving innovation-led growth.
ICT Sector Growth Underscores Conference Relevance
WACC 2026 comes against the backdrop of rapid expansion in Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Industry data indicate that ICT now contributes over 18% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reinforcing its role as a key driver of economic diversification and growth.
NITDA and NDPC Deepen Regulatory Engagement
NITDA’s Executive Regulatory Notes will focus on priority regulatory and infrastructure initiatives, tech-enabled entrepreneurship, smart public-sector innovation, youth skills development, and job creation.
According to Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO of NITDA, partnering with WACC 2026 is strategic to engaging stakeholders as the agency advances Nigeria’s digital transformation mandate. In an election year, NITDA also plays a critical role through collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on ICT deployment and security.
The NDPC, which recently partnered with INEC to safeguard the personal data of over 94 million voters ahead of the 2027 elections, sees WACC as a vital engagement platform. Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, said:
“WACC offers a window to establish a national culture of data protection across all sectors within the framework of the digital economy.”
Broad Participation from Industry and States
Participants at WACC 2026 will include chief executives of ICT and telecommunications companies, data centre operators, internet service providers, banks and fintech firms, regulators, venture capital investors, startup founders, academics, and professional associations.
State governments are also expected to feature prominently through a dedicated investors’ pitch session, showcasing digital governance initiatives, infrastructure projects, and investment-ready opportunities at the subnational level.
Two Decades of Bridging Policy and Innovation
The West Africa Convergence Conference is organised by Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa. For more than two decades, WACC has served as a bridge between government policy and private-sector innovation.
Chairman of WACC 2026, Sola Afolabi, said the conference remains critical to shaping national dialogue on digital transformation and economic development.
Recognising Digital Economy Trailblazers
The event will also honour outstanding individuals and institutions shaping Nigeria’s digital and innovation landscape through the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026 awards.
Commenting on the conference’s significance, Olusegun Oruame, CEO of Knowhow Media International, said Nigeria’s digital economy has emerged as one of the country’s strongest growth engines.
“Equally crucial is bringing political leaders, policymakers, and the business community together. This convergence is essential for achieving real and sustainable growth,” he said.
