Lagos Hosts GITEX Nigeria 2025: Forging the Rise of Digital Nigeria

Lagos Hosts GITEX Nigeria 2025: Forging the Rise of Digital Nigeria

On September 3–4, 2025, the Eko Hotel Convention Centre in Lagos transformed into the hub of West Africa’s digital economy as GITEX Nigeria 2025 unfolded under the theme Forging the Rise of Digital Nigeria.

The two-day tech expo and future economy conference welcomed over 3,000 professionals, 100+ exhibitors, and global tech giants like IBM, MTN, Cisco, and Space42. From cutting-edge showcases in AI, fintech, IoT, and cybersecurity to forward-looking executive and investment tracks, the event positioned Nigeria at the centre of Africa’s digital growth story.

Panels that Challenged and Inspired

One of the biggest draws of GITEX Nigeria 2025 was its high-level panel sessions that tackled Africa’s pressing digital questions.

• Helping Corporate Africa Take a Digital Leap
  Legacy industries are under pressure to digitise or risk irrelevance. This panel unpacked why 68% of corporate digital transformations in Africa fail, pointing to execution inertia, cultural hurdles, and investor skepticism. Speakers like Serkan Çelik (Redington Group), Dipika Prasad (Google Cloud), and Shoyinka Shodunke (MTN Nigeria) shared strategies for turning incumbents into true innovators.
  
• Digital Sovereignty in a Globalised World
  With only 2% of Africa’s data stored locally, this session spotlighted the urgent need for stronger regulation, infrastructure, and national data ownership. Leaders including Shogo Ishida (EMURGO Middle East & Africa), Lars Johannisson (Rack Centre), and Dr. Krishnan Ranganath (Africa Data Centres) discussed how Nigeria can safeguard digital autonomy while collaborating globally.
  
• Ethical AI for Africa’s Digital Future
  As AI becomes a defining force, the conversation turned to responsibility, not just capability. Panelists such as Chika Amadi (Bank of England) and Donovan Mooney (Google Cloud SSA) explored what ethical AI looks like in practice—covering inclusion, governance, and cyber resilience as the foundation for trustworthy systems.
  

Beyond the exhibitions and panels, GITEX Nigeria 2025 highlighted the urgency of aligning innovation with execution. Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding, but success depends on how well industries embrace transformation, policymakers enforce sovereignty, and businesses adopt ethical technologies.

For attendees, the expo was more than a showcase but a blueprint for the future. From AI-driven solutions to the rise of digital infrastructure, Lagos once again proved it is not just a tech hub for Nigeria but a launchpad for Africa’s digital future.

TechCity