The Omniverse 2025 platform provided a global stage for subnational leaders to connect with investors, policymakers, and technology pioneers to drive industrial transformation.

The event also witnessed a resounding commitment to leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive industrial growth.

Kano and Abia States showcased the great potential of their leather industries, while Lagos pledged to attract investors to transform this potential into a thriving multi-million-dollar enterprise.

The synergy between state governments and private sector players is set to spark a new wave of innovation, driving tourism, commodity trade, and manufacturing excellence.

Abia State’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, David Kalu, played a pivotal role in advancing interregional collaboration and technological innovation.

During the Sub-national Roundtable, Commissioner Kalu highlighted Abia’s impressive production capacity, stating, “Abia produces 50 million pairs of shoes per annum, and we want to source our leather from Kano.”

Kalu’s participation underscores Abia State’s commitment to leveraging technology and regional partnerships to drive industrial growth and economic prosperity. The state’s focus on sourcing leather from Kano not only enhances the quality of its footwear industry but also fosters inter-state economic synergy, embodying the collaborative spirit emphasized at Omniverse 2.0.

The Commissioner also disclosed that ipNX has officially entered into a strategic partnership with the state government. He added the partnership is expected to bridge the digital divide, providing opportunities to ultimately empower young people and businesses across the state.

This partnership outlined the design, development, and deployment of state-of-the-art ICT systems that will enable Abia State bolster its digital ecosystem and become a beacon of technological innovation, with seamless connectivity empowering citizens, businesses, and government institutions alike.

The summit also featured insights from other key officials, including Minister for Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa, who advocated for inclusive stakeholder collaboration to bridge digitization gaps, reinforcing the interconnectedness of creativity and technology in driving national development.

Round table panelists include: include, Lawrence Ezeh – Ministry of Science & Technology, Enugu State; David Kalu Commissioner, Ministry of Science & Technology; Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Lagos State represented by an official of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata Commissioner, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Kano State; Naufal Ahmad Director General, Information Technology Development Agency, Katsina State and Toke Benson-Awoyinka Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture,

Also present at the event were Obi Asika, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and Co-Convener of Omniverse, alongside Charles Uchenna Emmebelu, the Convener of Omniverse and Chairman of Innovation Support Network .