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GITEX 2024: Lagos Targets $3m Tech Investments

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Lagos State government

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government intends to get over $3 million in investments as a team of policymakers and executives travelled to GITEX 2024, holding in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Tunbosun Alake, the state eyes these investments in the technology sector.

“Lagos State has begun to reap some benefits from its attendance and collaborations at the past editions of GITEX. The state, is however, looking at increasing its size of investments in technology and innovation.

“GITEX provides a platform for global investment and partnership facilitation, we plan to utilize this for greater inward investment flows into our ecosystem.

“Since 2022, we have taken some startup companies to GITEX, who in turn have won grants, global partnerships, and finished in top positions in competitions, such as the Supanova competition where our startup firms got to an appreciable level. This is Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s vision for the ecosystem,” the Commissioner stated.

Mr Alake added that start-ups from Lagos have now been expanding to other markets, expressing the state government’s desire to drive further government-to-government partnerships between Lagos and the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Government.

The Commissioner said that Lagos visibility in the tech ecosystem is paramount, and this has been achieved to a greater length with the State’s presence and contributions at GITEX.

“We are proud to say that our attendance has yielded positive results as the Dubai World Trade Centre has expressed interest in hosting the global technology event in Lagos at a date to be announced in due course. This will no doubt bring direct and indirect benefits to the State and will add to the growing economy of Lagos,” Mr Alake said.

GITEX 2024 will hold at the prestigious Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from October 13 to 18.

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mr Obafemi Hazmat, will lead the state’s delegation to the global technology event.

He is expected to participate in some high-profile activities, fireside chats and scheduled meetings with some investors and government leaders with the aim of attracting investments to Lagos.

GITEX, the biggest tech show in the world, connects people with industry leaders from big tech, global governments, innovative startups, expert investors, and corporate buyers. It is a technology expo held annually at the Dubai World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates.

The event underpins the rapid technology-driven transformations, investments, and projects shaping the economies of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

This year, the Lagos State contingent is characterized by technology ecosystem companies and startups in areas such as Organisational ERP management, robotics, and software development among others.

Each of these companies is driving value in the Lagos and Nigerian economy. Previous attendances by the state have driven value to Lagos, bringing investment opportunities into the tech space and also enhancing the capacity of tech start-ups.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Interswitch Inducts New Interns into Developer Academy to Fortify Tech Talent Pipeline

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Interswitch’s Developer Academy

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A cohort of developer interns has been inducted into the Developer Academy of Interswitch as part of efforts to deepen Africa’s tech talent pipeline.

The new cohort emerged through a rigorous multi-stage process involving technical assessments and interviews. They were chosen from over 20,000 applications.

The talents were sourced from across key engineering tracks, including Backend Development, DevOps, Mobile Development, Frontend Engineering, and Quality Assurance.

Their induction highlights both the scale of interest in software engineering opportunities in Nigeria and Interswitch’s role in nurturing the next generation of highly skilled technology professionals.

During the 9-month programme, participants will benefit from mentorship by experienced professionals, exposure to enterprise-grade systems, and the development of workplace readiness skills essential for today’s dynamic work environment.

Designed as an intensive and structured learning experience, the Developer Academy combines theoretical instruction with real-world application, equipping participants with the skills required to thrive in an increasingly global and competitive technology landscape.

At the end of the programme, top-performing interns may be offered full-time roles within Interswitch, while others are well-positioned to pursue opportunities across the broader technology landscape.

“At Interswitch, we have always believed in the capacity to see beyond the immediate challenges and focus on long-term impact. While the migration of skilled talent remains a reality, our approach is to actively shape the outcomes by building a strong and sustainable pipeline of technology professionals,” the chief executive of Interswitch, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, said.

“We are therefore committed to equipping individuals with the capabilities to contribute meaningfully to the broader technology ecosystem, locally and globally, not just for our own needs at Interswitch. In doing so, we are not only strengthening the industry but also reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a source of globally competitive engineering talent,” he added.

Also commenting, the Human Resources Officer, Mr Franklin Ali, said, “The Developer Academy reflects our long-term commitment to building talent at scale. We are equipping these young professionals not just with technical skills, but with the mindset, discipline, and adaptability required to thrive in diverse environments.

“Whether they build their careers within Interswitch, contribute to the local ecosystem, or explore global opportunities, they represent the strength and potential of Nigerian talent and carry forward the standard of excellence we are committed to building.”

Beyond its immediate training objectives, Interswitch’s Developer Academy is anchored on a broader strategic vision, one that addresses the ongoing migration of skilled talent from Nigeria and other developing economies.

As global demand for software engineers continues to rise, many highly skilled professionals are increasingly recruited by international organisations.

Interswitch’s approach reframes this trend, positioning talent development both as a means of local capacity building and as an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s reputation as a global hub for technology expertise.

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Flexmobile to Disrupt Nigeria’s Telecom Landscape

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Flexmobile

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Nigeria’s telecom landscape is about to be abuzz, with the much-anticipated launch of Flexmobile from Hazon Technologies.

Feelers indicate that the company will soon make a commercial debut, as the regulatory approval is now in the final stage.

It was gathered that the commercial rollout for Flexmobile should be June 1, 2026, as this depends on the authorisation of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which regulates the sector. The telco will have the distinctive 081 number series.

Early signals suggest a product ecosystem engineered around flexibility, data-centricity, and user control—an approach aligned with the evolving expectations of Nigeria’s digitally connected population.

For seamless operations, Flexmobile has sealed commercial agreements with its MVNE, IMBIL, and Airtel Nigeria.

“What lies ahead is more than a launch—it is the beginning of a new way to experience telecoms in Nigeria,” the chief executive of Hazon Technologies, Mr Victor ‘Gbenga Afolabi, said at a recent media briefing.

“After years of building the right partnerships and infrastructure, we are approaching a defining milestone. Flexmobile is designed to challenge conventions and introduce a smarter, more flexible telecom experience for Nigerians,” he added.

While full details of its offering will be unveiled at launch, Flexmobile is expected to introduce a suite of value-added services designed to go beyond traditional connectivity—positioning the brand at the intersection of telecoms, lifestyle, and digital enablement.

Backed by strong institutional partnerships and a robust MVNE framework, Flexmobile enters the market not just as another operator, but as a platform with the potential to reshape how telecom services are consumed and experienced.

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ipNX, NCC to Drive Inclusive Digital Growth Across Nigeria

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ipNX Nigeria NCC

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) company, ipNX Nigeria, is joining forces with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to accelerate broadband penetration and drive inclusive digital growth across the country.

Recently, an executive delegation of the organisation paid a visit to the chairman of the regulatory agency, Mr Idris Olorunimbe.

“We are pleased to engage with the new chairman of the NCC and show our support as he takes on this important role.

“Strong leadership and a clear policy direction are essential to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.

“At ipNX, we remain committed to working closely with the commission and other stakeholders to expand broadband access, enhance connectivity in educational institutions, and ultimately bridge the digital divide.

“This collaboration will empower millions of Nigerians and further position the country as a leader in Africa’s technological evolution,” the Managing Director of ipNX Nigeria, Mr Ejovi Aror, said at the visit.

In his remarks, Mr Olorunnimbe thanked the firm for the show of support, reiterating the commission’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for private sector participation in achieving universal broadband access across Nigeria.

This collaboration is expected to advance Nigeria’s transformation agenda in technology and help boost the federal government’s broadband agenda for the country.

ipNX Nigeria has said it remains at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge broadband and ICT solutions, and this engagement underscores its unwavering dedication to supporting national development through technology-driven initiatives.

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