Nigeria is forging a high-level partnership with GITEX Global, one of the world’s leading technology and innovation platforms, to supercharge the country’s youth-driven digital economy, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, says.
The strategic alliance, sealed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), will culminate in a National Digital Innovation Showcase powered by GITEX, scheduled to hold from September 1–4, 2025, in Nigeria.
The showcase, the Minister says, will feature 300 high-potential Nigerian startups, which will be spotlighted for global exposure, access to international markets, and tailored support to scale and succeed.
The initiative aligns with broader national strategies under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), which has already onboarded over 210,000 young Nigerians. Through NiYA, Green House Centres are being established across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas to provide training, enterprise support, and access to emerging technologies.
“We are building bridges between Nigerian youth and global innovation ecosystems,” Comrade Olawande says during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he held talks with top tech officials. “Sheraa’s mission to nurture talent aligns perfectly with our goal of unlocking the creative and entrepreneurial potential of our young people.”
Reaffirming Nigeria’s ambition to shift its youth from digital consumers to creators, the Minister says, “The future belongs to those who innovate. Our mission is to position Nigerian youth as creators, not just consumers, in the global digital economy.”
The initiative aligns with broader national strategies under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), which has already onboarded over 210,000 young Nigerians. Through NiYA, Green House Centres are being established across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas to provide training, enterprise support, and access to emerging technologies.
A GITEX Youth Local Showcase Series, powered by NiYA, is also underway to feed a steady stream of Nigerian talent into international showcases such as GITEX Africa and GITEX Global, providing a pipeline for young innovators into global tech ecosystems.
During his UAE visit, Minister Olawande also met with Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. Their talks centre on collaborative opportunities in AI education, startup incubation, business process outsourcing (BPO), and remote work innovation—areas deemed vital for youth employment and Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
“This is about laying the foundation for a generation of leaders who will define Africa’s tech-driven future,” Olawande adds, urging Nigerian youth to seize the moment. “To every innovator, tech founder, designer, and changemaker, your time is now. Nigeria is ready.”
The GITEX partnership signals a growing recognition of Nigeria’s youth as the backbone of the country’s digital future and a strategic move to elevate home-grown innovation to the global stage, according to government.
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