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Lagos Ready to Host GITEX 2025—Hamzat 

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GITEX 2020

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to host the GITEX Nigeria conference in September 2025.

The event which is currently ongoing in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, is scheduled to be held in Nigeria next year, with Lagos as the destination of choice.

According to the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, who led a team to this year’s event, “bringing GITEX to Lagos is very good, and it will allow even other countries to see what is possible.”

Mr Hamzat said this during a meeting with Ms Trixie LohMirmand, the Chief Executive Officer of Kaoun International, and her management team in the Lagos Pavilion in Dubai.

He noted that the Lagos State Government and indeed the entire technology ecosystem in Nigeria would be very receptive to the coming of the global tech show to the country, especially Lagos State, where tech and innovation have found a good ground in Africa.

“Another great thing that we’ve discovered is that the number of young entrepreneurs in Lagos State is unbelievable, and as you said, we can’t bring everybody here to Dubai.”

The Deputy Governor stated that there could not have been a better time for the tech world to make its presence felt in Africa, particularly Nigeria, than now, when the country is experiencing an upsurge in the growth of talents in technology and innovation.

Mr Hamzat said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration was deliberate in its decision to make technology drive more of the State’s development programmes.

“Lagos, for example, does what we call Art of Technology (AOT), which is now in its fifth year. With the AOT, a lot of young entrepreneurs in the IT and innovation space have been discovered, and many of them are now running as businesses, with its attendant effect on our economy and the entire ecosystem.”

The Deputy Governor added that the young innovators in Lagos are already creating real solutions, saying their creations are solving real-life problems and are helping their immediate families, friends, and communities.

“There are 10-year-old, 12-year-old children that all they do is coding because they want to help their parents sell their products and services. For example, young innovators whose parents are fishermen or fish sellers. The parents are probably petty traders. But these primary and secondary school pupils sit down, and do the codes to help their parents sell, and people come all over the place to buy. The parents are surprised to see the massive turnout of customers at their stalls—that is the power of technology and innovation, and as a state government, we are more than happy to host an event of this nature that would help to connect these talents that we have in abundance to the countless opportunities out here.

“We have pockets of knowledge in our state. The question for us is, how do we explode it, how do we actually make it out there, and then allow people to benefit? The creators also need to benefit from their thinking. So, I hope that GITEX Nigeria can do that for us when you can bring all these young people from different areas.

“I know it’s technology, but how do we take it to entertainment? Entertainment is big in Nigeria; the creative industry is the next oil as far as we are concerned, and that is why we are investing heavily in that sector,” Hamzat said.

On her part, Ms LohMirmand, said, “Technology is a necessity; it is not a luxury, saying that the world needs it for survival.”

She said the last time she visited Nigeria for a meeting, she and her team saw young Nigerians who “sat in a small room with systems on their laps doing great things.”

Ms LohMirmand, whose company organises GITEX Global, said they are committed to discovering new partners and connecting Nigeria to opportunities that are yet untapped in the technology space.

“That is our role. We will need a lot of support from your Government in terms of logistics and security for us to organise a good show in Lagos, Nigeria.”

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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