Nigerian entrepreneurs are the architects of the digital future says Lagos State Deputy Governor as GITEX NIGERIA champions national & regional startup ecosystems
- GITEX
NIGERIA Startup Festival cast a unique
global spotlight on the profound influence of emerging entrepreneurs across
Nigeria & Africa
- Supernova
Challenge finals also headlined the third & final day of GITEX NIGERIA 2025
– Curacel claimed $10,000 first prize
Lagos,
Nigeria – 04 September 2025: The inaugural GITEX NIGERIA concluded
in a tremendous fashion this Thursday in Lagos, as West Africa’s largest tech,
AI, and startup show cast a spotlight on the influence of emerging local and
regional entrepreneurs.
Held
under the patronage of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, GITEX NIGERIA took place across Abuja and Lagos
from 1-4 September. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications,
Innovation and Digital Economy with the National Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA), the event was endorsed by Lagos State Government
and organised by KAOUN International, global producer of GITEX events.
Taking place in Nigeria’s commercial and innovation capital, the GITEX
NIGERIA Startup Festival showcased the strength and depth of an ecosystem
through which talent development pathways and digital infrastructure projects
are accelerating Nigeria’s US$1 trillion economy ambition.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, H.E. Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, hailed its
immediate impact at the national level, declaring: “GITEX NIGERIA
sends an inspirational message to every Nigerian: that many positive things are
transpiring across our country and opportunities are here. For every attendee
at the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival, this has been immediately apparent. We
see many young citizens and entrepreneurs, with enormous innovative minds,
making a real difference – generating interest, raising capital, and overcoming
challenges by bringing their ideas to life and delivering tangible impact. Such
outcomes are crucial because they show that, as the world evolves, so too does
Nigeria – as a nation of leaders, innovators, and architects of digital future
we envisage.”
Central to Nigeria – and Africa’s – digital sovereignty is upskilling and
expanding grassroots talent and organisations. As the largest regional showcase
of its kind and a convergence point for local and international stakeholders
embracing digital transformation, the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival was
perfectly timed to support this mandate.
Over 650
startups from 27+ countries and 29 different industries participated with a
shared vision of co-creating tech architecture across multiple sectors
undergoing continent-wide digitisation. Its strategic programme included Nigeria’s
most globally diverse investor programme, innovation hub showcases, and curated
meetings between startups, investors, corporates, governments, industry
leaders, and prospective partners.
Speaking
after the recent announcement of funding 75 new research projects for startups,
researchers, corporates and Nigerian diaspora for digital innovation, the
Hon. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria said: “The opportunity and responsibility
lies with all of us to build a resilient, innovative, and globally connected
ecosystem, one that ensures that Nigeria not only keeps pace with the digital
future but also shapes it. To all enterprises, corporates, startups, academia,
and partners, we offer a transparent and accelerated path to collaboration,
investment, and cooperation with Nigeria. Let us accelerate the development of
the digital economy not only for Nigeria, but for Africa and the world.”
Supporting
the multi-sector disruption ranging from education and agriculture through
manufacturing and energy, startup participation was
bolstered by hundreds of organisations brought by local engagement and
international innovation hub partnerships.
Within
Nigeria, NITDA, Lagos State, FATE Foundation, Co-creation Hub Africa (CcHUB), and
Orange Corners were among the partners, while internationally, the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), American Business Council (ABC) contributed.
Mr.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO, NITDA, said: “Across
Africa and around the globe, future-oriented partnerships are the lifeblood of thriving
startup ecosystems and digital economies. By uniting ambitious organisations from
instrumental sectors in the emerging digital economy, we demonstrate how
collaboration fuels innovation, accelerates transformation, and empowers Nigerians
and Africans to shape their digital future.”
Universally recognised as the world’s leading pitch competition for
early-stage companies and emerging entrepreneurs, the Supernova Challenge made
its regional debut at West Africa’s largest tech, AI, and startup show – culminating
in action-packed Thursday final.
Across two days in Nigeria’s innovation capital, the continent’s
brightest and boldest disruptors joined Nigeria’s most visionary startups in
competing for a US$22,000 total prize pool across six categories – showcasing
game-changing solutions transforming agritech, cybersecurity, edtech,
e-commerce, healthtech, telecom, and more.
Following the semi-finals 24 hours prior, the remaining contestants battled
it out for valuable cash prizes and unprecedented visibility as regional and
international investors watched on.
Abdul-Jabbar Momoh, VP, from Nigerian startup Curacel – revolutionising
health insurance with AI-driven solutions – emerged as the most outstanding finalist
among the expert judging panel, and was awarded the US$10,000 first prize for
its AI-driven health insurance solution.
Reflecting on the at GITEX NIGERIA, Momoh said: “Placing first
at the GITEX NIGERIA Supernova Challenge gives us more visibility and fuel our
expansion across Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as North America. Most
importantly we are going to keep on impacting lives in Africa and around the
world by deploying solutions to move health insurance distribution.”
The winners across each Supernova Challenge category were as follows:
- Overall Supernova Champion (US$10,000): Curacel
- AI category (US$2,000): Build Africa
- Digital Finance category (US$2,000): InCash
- Creative Economy & Martech (US$2,000): Hadiya
- Agritech & Energy (US$2,000): Acecore
- Mobility & Smart Cities (US$2,000): Kara
- Disruptor Award (US$2,000): HiPrep