The conference featured three dynamic stages and The Deal Room:

1. Epicenter Stage: Government representatives, corporations, and VVIP delegations explored opportunities and addressed challenges in Africa’s tech landscape.
2. Startup Stage: Thought leaders and tech founders engaged in panels and workshops on AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and more.
3. Outsource Factory Stage: In partnership with GFA Technology, Kryptr, and Jobberman is designed to empower Africa’s young talent with training workshops and outsourcing career connections.
4. Deal Room: is a Global Tech Africa initiative in partnership with One Africa to implement its first edition. It was designed to connect innovative startups with potential investors, and supporting tech enterprises in Africa.

Keynote Highlights

– Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi (Director General, NITDA) emphasized the government’s commitment to technological innovation for economic diversification.

– Ralph Simon (Founder, Mobilium) discussed AI’s potential for Africa’s local transformation.

– Kenise Hill (Acting Political and Economic Chief, U.S. Consulate General Lagos) highlighted US-Africa partnerships in AI development.

– Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe (Commissioner, Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment, Lagos State) introduced the Empower Lagos Project for youth and small-scale entrepreneurs.

– Anna Sophie Herkin (Managing Director, GIZ) focused on closing the finance gap for women entrepreneurs.

Panel Sessions and Masterclasses

The conference included panels on women empowerment, AI, fintech, agriculture, edtech, health tech, and cybersecurity. Notable sessions included:

– “Unlocking Liquidity: Catalyzing Growth Through Strategic Investments and Innovation” featuring industry leaders from Venture Garden Group, SEC Nigeria, NITDA, MoFI, Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Group, and Deloitte.

– “Empowering the Workforce: Addressing Africa’s Talent Crises (Tech Roles)” featuring experts from Career Buddy, Helium Health, Semicolon, and Alajo.

– Cosmetics meets Tech – Big Data and Analytics: Customer Insights Drive Product and Marketing featuring experts from MINCE/ XPT.

– Adapting global best practices – Shaping Nigeria’s AI policy for Africa: A legislative tracker from American Business Council, designed to give developing organisations an overview of policies and how they can contribute to it, presented by representatives of the American Business Council, Lagos Business School, PwC, and NCAIR (National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics).

– AI Training for Women in Business & Tech featuring leaders from NITDA, Simplify Synergy, Sh’Emerge, Nextwear Technologies, and Yudimy.

– Edutech Roundtable featuring experts discussing the future of learning in Africa and intellectual property rights.

Masterclasses covered topics such as machine learning, business transformation, mobile app development, data analytics, and operations management, led by professionals from Sterling Bank, GFA Technologies, Clane-Payments, Wema Bank, and Autogirl.

The Deal Room saw over 10 investors focusing on over 150 selected investees represented across 16 industries such as technology & solutions, energy & environment, food & agriculture, gaming, fashion & retail, and many others. Some of the investors include:

• USADF: which specialises in solar and climate sector companies.
• DFS Africa: Focusing on startups and post-revenue stage companies.
• Mainbridge UK: Concentrating on early-stage tech startups.
• Endeavor Nigeria: Targeting early-stage startups.
• Alithea Nigeria: Focusing on post-revenue stage companies.
• Twelve Vest: Specializing in post-revenue stage companies.
• Genius Hub Global: Investing in the creative industry.
• Solar Centric: Investing in fintech and energy sectors.
• Plug Platform: Interested in sustainable and social impact investments.
• Cocoa Ventures LLC: with an interest in startups.

Showcase and Networking

Tech companies and startups displayed their innovative products including Emerging Innovators, Chibby Dangana, founder, Data Factory, Ayomide Onasanya, co-founder, Kryptr, Oma Are, convener, AI Africa summit, and Caroline Moore, founder, Ideasmarketplace, complemented by refreshments from local brands such as Best Nigeria, Chow Noodles. The National Creativity Competition spotlighted university students’ innovative ideas, with standout projects like reusable pads from Gbemisola of the College of Nursing, Oyo.

Closing and Future Outlook

The Global Tech Africa 2024 Conference was a vibrant convergence of Africa’s brightest minds and key stakeholders in tech, facilitated by partners such as the Future Map Foundation, NITDA, the U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Ascend Studios Foundation, and Venture Garden Group.

The Global Tech Africa conference underscored Africa’s digital economy’s immense potential and the collective commitment to its growth and development.

Dr. Babajide Oyeduntan, Vice President, Business Development and Sales, Interswitch e’Clat, made this assertion at the highly impactful Global Tech Africa (GTA) Conference recently held at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.

GTA is an annual conference that brings together critical stakeholders in Africa’s technology ecosystem to explore opportunities in the continent to harness technology for growth and development.  During a stimulating roundtable discussion themed “Building Robust Health Data Systems in Africa,” Dr. Oyeduntan spotlighted the remarkable strides by Interswitch e’Clat in revolutionizing healthcare data access and integration.

He reaffirmed that Interswitch e’Clat has made significant impact in ensuring seamless access to health data and streamlining data integration across numerous health laboratories nationwide.

He said, “Our vision is to create an improved healthcare ecosystem where healthcare providers are provided with comprehensive access to patient information, ensuring quality of healthcare.”

Highlighting the collaborative efforts by Interswitch e’Clat, Dr. Oyeduntan spoke on the recent partnerships with the Ogun and Lagos State governments.

According to him, the strategic alliances aim to transform the health sectors within these states, setting a benchmark for regional healthcare excellence. The partnerships focus on developing robust health information systems, implementing electronic medical records, and facilitating real-time data access and analyses.

The Vice President noted that partnering with state governments is a pivotal step in Interswitch’s mission to enhance healthcare delivery.

He said that the initiatives in Ogun and Lagos States are tailored to modernising healthcare infrastructure, reduce inefficiencies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

He was optimistic that through the collaborations, Interswitch e’Clat will establish a replicable model for other states and regions to follow.

The smart health information platform presented by Interswitch e’Clat is designed to address critical issues such as fragmented healthcare data, inefficient patient management systems, and the lack of coordinated care, all of which sum up the reality of our healthcare system.

This initiative by Interswitch e’Clat is not just a leap towards technological advancement, but a testament to its commitment to public healthcare.

In light of the foregoing, Interswitch e’Clat is revolutionizing the Nigerian healthcare sector, setting new standards in health information technology.

The Conference is designed to bring together African and international stakeholders in Tech, unlock growth opportunities, and build the tech ecosystem in Africa. Other partners include Business Sweden, Venture Garden Group, RivExcel Health, and other Tech Giants across the world.

Africa is poised to play a critical role in the global tech ecosystem, providing innovation, talent, and new market opportunities in areas such as mobile technology, e-commerce, fintech, ag-tech, and the digital economy.

Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director General of NITDA, emphasizes the opportunities Global Tech Africa can bring to Africa with Nigeria playing a significant role in driving the growth of the African tech ecosystem:

“Nigeria’s tech prowess ignites a flame of innovation that illuminates Africa’s path towards a prosperous digital future, fostering job creation and driving economic growth across the continent. Leveraging Nigeria’s youthful and tech-savvy population, favorable legislations, and policies, the country is well positioned to become Africa’s leading digital technology hub”

The United States has been a key partner to Nigeria in providing an enabling environment for the Tech ecosystem.

“The U.S. Mission Nigeria will continue to promote partnerships that advance the development of Nigeria’s tech and startup ecosystem to catalyze technological progress and promote a more robust U.S.-Nigeria trade and investment relationship.  Nigeria is rapidly being recognized by global tech companies as a center for tech talent and innovation and the U.S. Mission is committed to working with U.S. and Nigerian tech companies to harness this great potential,”

– says Will Stevens, U.S. Consul General.

A Global Tech Africa Summit will take place in Lagos on the 25th of July 2023 with 300 tech stakeholders from the private, public, and development sectors. The summit will be followed by the GTA Conference in Lagos, Nigeria between the 17th and 20th of November 2023.

Speaking to the opportunities GTA will give to participants and attendees, Dr. Inya Lawal, the president of Ascend Studios Foundation and implementation partner for GTA, and Abdulsalam Umar, COO of Future Map affirm that GTA will attract support from private, public, and development sectors to explore opportunities for tech infrastructure and investment, support for start-ups, grants/seed investment as it also enables increased participation and growth of Women and Girls in the Tech Ecosystem.

The GTA conference will provide a platform for stakeholders, including investors, regulators, consumers, academia, and the general public, to engage in discussions and explore opportunities for collaboration to shape the future of Africa’s tech landscape.

The conference’s structure includes plenary sessions, breakout sessions, pitch competitions, exhibitions, sideline networking, and cocktail sessions. 

Exposing the opportunities in the Nigerian Start-Up ACT and its offerings, with GTA as a meeting forum, the summit and conference will provide a platform for investors, regulators, and entrepreneurs to explore investment and global partnership opportunities.

GTA will provide a platform for consumers, enthusiasts, and the general public to engage with and learn from technology experts and practitioners – showcasing the latest technology trends in Africa and providing insights into future trends and innovations.