Nigeria’s digital economic future for the 2027–2031 political dispensation will take center stage at the 15th West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) 2026 and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy awards.
The high-impact engagement, scheduled to take place in Lagos in June 2026, brings together a collegiate of experts across technology, policy, and politics.
The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He will headline a high-level policy colloquium themed: “Leveraging Technology for Development in Nigeria, 2027–2031: Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
APC Chairman Yilwatda: A Digital Expert at the Helm
Prof. Yilwatda is a prominent Nigerian academic, digital systems engineer, and politician. He holds a Ph.D. in Digital Systems Engineering and served 12 years as Director of ICT at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. With over two decades of experience spearheading major IT and digital transformation projects, he is widely recognized as a digital expert.
Yilwatda described WACC as strategically aligned with the APC’s commitment to inclusive growth and national development planning beyond 2027.
“The opportunity to engage policymakers, industry leaders, technology innovators, investors, and ecosystem builders on the role of technology in accelerating national development is both timely and important,” he said, commending Knowhow Media International for sustaining a credible, non-partisan platform.
MOFI’s Dr. Armstrong Takang to Lead Economic and Investment Talks
Leading economic, investment, and partnership discussions is Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, CEO of Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI). MOFI is the Federal Government’s asset management corporation and investment arm, restructured to unlock liquidity and create wealth. Its core role is to serve as custodian and active manager of all federal government investment interests, Government-Owned Entities (GOEs), and Government-Linked Companies.
Takang, with decades of experience in investment consultancy and public reforms, will pitch MOFI’s digital economy and innovation-led initiatives at WACC.
These include investment and public-private partnership opportunities in digital infrastructure expansion, smart governance, public-sector innovations, and financing for technology-enabled entrepreneurship and industrial growth.
A former Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Takang led the transformation of MOFI into a full-fledged Federal Government-owned private equity and venture capital entity with assets under management exceeding $40 billion. He also spearheaded Project Lighthouse, a big data analytics system supporting the Federal Government’s revenue generation agenda.
Dr. Takang, who chaired the Nigeria National ICT Strategic Action Plan Committee and the Nigeria National Software Development Task Force, said:
“The conference theme aligns with MOFI’s mandate as the Federal Government’s assets and investment management institution. We are committed to catalysing investment, fostering PPPs, and driving innovation-led growth.”
Technology, Policy, and Politics Converge Ahead of 2027 Elections
Organisers say the growing interest reflects WACC’s strategic relevance as Nigeria prepares for a pivotal election year and accelerates its transition into a digitally driven economy. National elections are expected in early 2027.
NDPC’s Dr. Vincent Olatunji: Data Protection as National Security
WACC will feature Executive Regulatory Addresses from key regulatory institutions. Dr. Vincent Olatunji, pioneer National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), will explore “Awareness to Accountability and Strengthening Data Protection Compliance in Nigeria’s Digital Economy.”
He will also address protecting citizens in an AI-driven economy, covering data privacy risks, ethics, and regulatory readiness.
Olatunji, Nigeria’s chief privacy ombudsman, will explain why data protection is a national security and economic imperative. The NDPC recently partnered with INEC to safeguard the personal data of over 94 million voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
“WACC offers a window to establish a national culture of data protection across all sectors within the framework of the digital economy,” Dr. Olatunji said.
NITDA’s Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi: Advancing Digital Transformation
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigeria’s Chief Information Technology Officer, will deliver Executive Regulatory Notes.
His focus will include advancing the digital economy, innovation, public-private partnership opportunities, tech-enabled entrepreneurship, smart public-sector innovation, youth skills development, talent pipelines, and job creation.
According to Abdullahi:
“Partnering with WACC 2026 is strategic to engaging stakeholders as we advance Nigeria’s digital transformation mandate. In an election year, NITDA also plays a critical role through collaboration with INEC on ICT deployment and security.”
Operators’ Commentary: Ike Nnamani on Data Centres
Ike Nnamani, CEO of Digital Realty Nigeria, former President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and founder of Medallion Communication Limited (now Digital Realty), will lead the Operators’ Commentaries.
He will address “Data Centres and Digital Economy: An Operator’s Viewpoint,” dissecting the future of data centres as Nigeria’s digital economy evolves.
Nnamani is celebrated as a pioneer in bridging the digital divide and a key investor in Africa’s digital technology sector.
Mohammed Rudman, CEO, IXPN, will be speaking on, “Building a Resilient Digital Infrastructure: IXPN’s Role in Strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy.”
MOFI’s Strategic Partnership
MOFI’s participation as WACC 2026 partner provides a high-impact national platform to articulate its vision of becoming a world-class, performance-driven investment institution that creates intergenerational wealth, attracts capital, and contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development, particularly within technology-enabled growth sectors.
Broad Participation from Industry and States
Participants at WACC 2026 will include chief executives of ICT and telecommunications companies, data centre operators, internet service providers, banks and fintech firms, regulators, venture capital investors, startup founders, academics, and professional associations.
State governments are also expected to feature prominently through a dedicated investors’ pitch session, showcasing digital governance initiatives, infrastructure projects, and investment-ready opportunities at the subnational level.
Two Decades of Bridging Policy and Innovation
The West Africa Convergence Conference is organised by Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa. For more than two decades, WACC has served as a bridge between government policy and private-sector innovation.
Sola Afolabi, Chairman of WACC 2026, said the conference remains critical to shaping national dialogue on digital transformation and economic development.
Recognising Digital Economy Trailblazers
The event will also honour outstanding individuals and institutions shaping Nigeria’s digital and innovation landscape through the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026 awards. Touted as the sector’s OSCARS, the business recognition is designed to reward excellence and inspire the next generation of pathfinders.
Commenting on the conference’s significance, Olusegun Oruame, CEO of Knowhow Media International, said: “Nigeria’s digital economy has emerged as one of the country’s strongest growth engines. Equally crucial is bringing political leaders, policymakers, and the business community together. This convergence is essential for achieving real and sustainable growth.”
Industry Context: ICT Contribution to GDP
WACC 2026 comes against the backdrop of rapid expansion in Nigeria’s ICT sector. Industry data indicates that ICT now contributes over 18% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reinforcing its role as a key driver of economic diversification and growth.
