Held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the session attracted the largest audience of the event’s opening day, setting the tone for three days of intensive engagement, learning, and strategic collaboration.

The fireside chat, moderated by Dr. Agabi, one of Africa’s most decorated ICT journalists, focused on the rising importance of data sovereignty, a theme that resonated deeply with policymakers, innovators, and technology stakeholders seeking to secure Nigeria’s place in the global digital economy.

The session formed a key part of the main event, which also featured remarks from Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, both of whom underscored the urgency of building a resilient and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.

A Conference Seen as a Turning Point

Described by many as a “game changer,” Digital Nigeria 2025 brought together over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states, a reflection of its growing influence as the nation’s premier technology convergence point.

With the theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” the conference aligned directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes digitalisation, industrialisation, and innovation as catalysts for economic diversification.

Key Highlights from Digital Nigeria 2025

• Unlocking Digital Economy Potential
  Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s digital economy as the nation’s “second chance at global relevance,” noting that the ICT sector already contributes 16–18% to Nigeria’s GDP.
• Empowering the Next Generation
  NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa challenged young Nigerians to take the lead in shaping Africa’s digital transformation, describing the country’s youthful, tech-savvy population as its strongest strategic asset.
• Scaling Digital Infrastructure
  The government unveiled plans to deploy 4,000 new telecom towers, connect 20 million additional Nigerians, and ramp up investments in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and data frameworks.
• Strengthening Digital Governance
  The National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, now progressing through the National Assembly, seeks to create a unified legal architecture for digital governance, cybersecurity, data protection, and electronic transactions.

A Robust Multi-Track Knowledge Exchange

This year’s conference delivered:

• 12 keynote sessions
• 23 panel discussions
• 5 workshops
• 2 expert masterclasses

These were organised across five thematic tracks:

1. Digital Connectivity
2. Digital Public Infrastructure and Trust
3. Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
4. Digital Trade and Innovation
5. Digital Skills and Literacy

Dr. Bayero Agabi: A Veteran at the Forefront of Africa’s Digital Story

The fireside chat host, Dr. Bayero Agabi is widely recognized as one of Africa’s leading ICT journalists and advocates.

With over 154 national and international awards, he remains the only African journalist to win the UNECA/AISI Award for balanced reporting and research.

Dr. Agabi is the vice president, Nigeria Internet Group; president, Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD); founder of Digivation Network, Nigeria’s first ICT TV programme; chairman, Green Summit Africa; author of Nigeria Digital Heroes and The Nigeria Digital Promise: A Bridge Yet to Cross, and publisher of Cyber Africa Magazine and Enterprise Africa Magazine

His leadership and industry pedigree brought depth and clarity to the conversation on data sovereignty, one of the most pressing issues for Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.

Themed: “Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) in Emerging Economy”, AfriTECH 3.0 is also supported by Comercio Limited, Open Access Data Centres (OADC), Datasixth Security Consulting, PalmPay, Reliance Infosystem, Digital Realty, ActivEdge Technologies, Africa Data Centres (ADC), WTES, ESET and host of others.

Hosted by TechCastle Foundation in collaboration with Techeconomy and partners, AfriTECH 3.0 is a unique engagement platform for global thought leaders, regulators, and other stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on contemporary strategies for accelerating technology ecosystem in the African continent and globally.

Speaking ahead of the Forum next week, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener of AfriTECH, reiterated that today, the boundary between hardware and software is blurring. Software is infiltrating more and more technology products that used to function only by mechanical rules and analog signals.

“Different models of driverless cars are navigating themselves with sensors and software. This trend is not stopping. Hardware-based technology companies often find themselves falling behind their innovative software counterparts in identifying new value for customers.

“In more dramatic cases categories of hardware technology got replaced by software. No one still buys radio or CD players anymore.

Thus, software is threatening to replace hardware-based networking. The “commoditization trap” for hardware seems impossible to escape without a product strategy backed by software innovation hence over 70% of the world economy has become services, and this percentage continues to grow worldwide.

As of 2020 the United States produced 79% of its GDP in services. Majority of the companies in Africa are strategizing to compete primarily on a service basis.

This approach referred to as Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS), which is the rising future for technology sectors, will be discussed at AfriTECH 3.0.

Programmes expected at AfriTECH 3.0 include keynotes by Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) & Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO, Open Access Data Centre (OADC), goodwill messages by industry stakeholders, fireside chat, commercial presentations/product launch and media sessions.

The prestigious Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards will be conferred on individuals and organisations that have distinguished themselves in Africa by leveraging technology to enrich the lives of the people.

“Other key topics to be explored include TaaS-driven last mile solutions, leveraging big data and artificial intelligence, inclusive product innovation, Driving ‘TaaS’ Model through infrastructure deployment, leveraging subscription model to survive tough economic times, cloud computing, omnichannel communications for improved CX, Consumer protection, fraud and data privacy, etc”, Peter Oluka, the co-convener of AfriTECH, said.

“The past editions of AfriTECH were well attended by C-Suite executives, investors, innovators, senior government officials from within and outside the Continent. With over 1,500 participants and feedback on the events overwhelmingly positive, the 2023 edition is much anticipated.

As Media partners;

The Guardian Newspaper (Nigeria), Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, RaveNewsOnline.com, ITPulse.com.ng, ITNews Nigeria, Swift Reporters, TechBuild.Africa, TechTrends.Africa, BusinessMetricsng.com, BusinessRemarks, DigitalTimesng.com, ITRealms.com.ng, GrassRoots.ng, TechTv, TechLifeWithUgo, DigiVation Network, TechnologyMirror, TechandBiz News, APNews, CyberEra, have demonstrated their support towards AfriTECH 3.0 actualization.

AfriTECH 3.0 is also backed by leading industry associations such as the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS); Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ATLTON); Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN); InnovationBed Africa; Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), amongst others.

“Overall, AfriTECH 3.0 promises to be an insightful and engaging platform for networking with a vibrant and globally diverse community and an eclectic mix of offerings to enrich participants’ in-person and/or virtual experience”, Oluka added.