Nigeria can change face of global technology space, says Pantanmi

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has said that Nigeria can change the face of the global technology space.

Pantanmi, stated this in Dubai, UAE, while interacting with the Nigerian startups community at on-going Gulf Information and Technology Exhibition (GITEX).

The NITDA DG noted that the country has the potential to be a major game changer in the global technology industry “and we have the human capacity to drive the momentum that could impact significantly on our economy and the rest of the continent.”

He charged the startups to be focused and remain resolute in their quest for global recognition, according to a stament made available to The Guardian.

Meanwhile, GITEX Technology Week 2016, one of the world’s most influential technology events, opened with Nigeria showcasing her startups and innovative technologies from some of its major ICT firms such as Precise financial Systems (PFS) and Systemspecs, providers of the Remita solutions.

The 2016 Gitex Technology week is hosting about 4,000 exhibiting companies and 64 participating countries in conference sessions, 230 global thought leaders will deliver insights across 65 sessions and 130 conference hours. Guiding organisations in their digital transformation, the GITEX vertical days conference programme will feature in-depth discussions from industry leaders on the key industry verticals of marketing, healthcare, finance, intelligent cities, retail, education, and energy.

Nigeria’s presence is foisted on the Nigeria Pavilion and the innovation hub, part of the GITEX Global Startup Movement, where it is promoting 16 startups as showpieces of the country’s fast growing technology ecosystem. The GITEX Global Startup Movement, the most global weeklong event in 2016, debuted at this year’s forum. Although only in its first year of inception, the GITEX Global Startup Movement is already the most global in the world, with international participation from 60 countries, more than any other startup shows anywhere. This is now the world’s 3rd largest weeklong event, with over 410 startups and 1200 tech founders.

“The GITEX Technology Week theme of ‘Re-Imagining Realities’ emphasises the practical steps that organisations need to take in their digital transformation, and the potential for enabling the life-changing ideas from entrepreneurs in Africa, Middle East and worldwide,” said Senior Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the event, Trixie LohMirmand.