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By Oluwatobi Opusunju
The National Information Technology Development Agency – NITDA – and Nigeria’s foreign mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through its Consulate in Dubai is to work together to have a rewarding outcome for Nigeria at this year’s Gitex – the premier technology event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA). The technology trade show occupies over 100,000 sqm of space and records over 185,000 trade visitors from 144 countries annually. Also, more than 35,000 visitors came from Africa in the 2013 edition of Gitex where Nigeria premiered its presence by setting up the Nigerian Pavilion which was promoted by the Nigerian Government through NITDA.
L-R.Dr. Olatunji, Dr. Pantami, and Ambassador Mohammed
In preparation for the 39th edition of Gitex, NITDA has already inaugurated the Gitex Local Organising Committee (LOC) to spearhead its preparations for a successful participation at the five-day global tech expo and conference. The LOC has members from the private and public sectors with representatives of governments of Benue, Kogi and Plateau and other states also in the LOC. Gitex Technology Week is holding October 8- 12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).http://www.gitex.com/innovators-wanted/
NITDA is facilitating Nigeria’s participation at three levels including the Nigerian Pavilion to showcase Nigerian private and public business concerns, Nigerian Startups cobs inside the Innovation Hub, and the Gitex Africa Investment Forum being co-managed by the NITDA and the DWTC to draw attention to Africa’s technology ecosystem and the investment potential in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy. The OIIE under NITDA is selecting Nigeria’s startup for the Global Startup pitch at Gitex 2017.
All for Gitex. At the Consulate General of Nigeria, Dubai, UAE. Front Row, L-R: Ambassador Mohammed, Dr. Pantami, and Ambassador Wakil.
“We at NITDA are determined to explore every viable platform at exposing investment opportunities in Nigeria’s IT sector. As the IT clearinghouse for government and as a regulatory agency, we are working within our mandate to expose our indigenous IT companies to global opportunities; to seek for collaborations at the government to government levels; to encourage synergy building between our startups and prospective investors or strategic partners. “Our participation in Gitex is to promote non-oil sectors, a cardinal economic goal of the President Muhammadu Buhari. Dubai is an international hub for business engagements. We are counting on the support of the Consulate General to mobilise effectively so that we would achieve great results here,” said Director General/CEO of NITDA, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami at the meeting inside the Consulate General of Nigeria, Dubai, UAE.
The Nigerian Consul General, Dubai, UAE, Ambassador Abu Mohammed assured that the foreign mission in UAE would mobilize the business community and offshore business ventures interested in Nigeria to come leverage on Nigeria’s presence at Gitex to have direct interaction with the country’s officials over business opportunities in Nigeria.
Gitex talks between Dr Pantami and Ambassador Mohammed inside the Consulate General of Nigeria, Dubai, UAE.
“I’m glad you are here in pursuit of our common interest at promoting Nigeria in all spheres. We are here to work with you and ensure we all succeed in this common goal. Your presence is affirming our position here that government is not far away from every Nigerian and that Nigeria is ready for business. This meeting also serves to encourage both foreigners seeking to do business in Nigeria and Nigerians here in Dubai to do more for their country and to assure them that the mission’s doors are open to assist them in meeting these goals,” said Ambassador Abu Mohammed.
Earlier, while setting the tone for the discussions, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, Director of Corporate Strategies at NITDA had acknowledged the supportive role of the Consulate in Nigeria’s past participation in Gitex. “We are here again to seek your support and to strengthen how the Consulate can support NITDA in directing investment interests into the country’s ICT sector,” said Olatunji.
The Africa Investment Forum is scheduled to hold 8th of October inside the Dubai World Trade Centre. It will focus on technology investments and how the continent could leverage on increasing value to GDP of ICT in most developing economies. More than 20 African countries are expected to participate and provide the groundwork for driving further investments in the ICT sector of the participating countries.
Present at the meeting were also Ambassador BabaganaWakil of the Consulate General of Nigeria, Dubai, UAE; Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, Hajiya Hadiza Umar; SA to the Director General/CEO of NITDA, Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu; President of Pinnacle International Consulting, LLC, the sole representative of the DWTC for Nigeria and West Africa, Mr. Akande Ojo; and Mr. Olusegun Oruame, CEO of Knowhow Media and Market Intelligence International Limited – KMMIIL, publishers of IT Edge News and local partners to Pinnacle International Consulting, LLC.
