Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will deliver the Keynote Focus Presentation at a high-level colloquium themed “Leveraging Technology for Development in Nigeria, 2027–2031: Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The two-hour colloquium serves as the strategic policy centerpiece of the broader WACC 2026 event, which also features the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026 Recognition Ceremony. Organized by Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.

Africa since 2004, the gathering brings together Nigeria’s most influential technology, telecom, finance, and policy leaders at a defining moment for the nation’s digital transformation journey.

Why This Moment Matters: Politics, Policy, and the Digital Economy Converge

With the January 2027 general elections now less than a year away, Professor Yilwatda’s keynote arrives at a critical juncture.

The APC National Chairman, a seasoned technocrat and engineer who previously served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, brings a unique blend of political leadership and technology expertise to the platform .

The forum provides a strategic, non-partisan but policy-forward platform to:

• Articulate the APC’s Technology and Digital Economy Blueprint (2027–2031) as a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda
• Engage and mobilize influential stakeholders across ICT, telecommunications, fintech, infrastructure, data, innovation, and the broader private sector
• Strengthen party–industry alignment, reinforcing commitment to economic modernization, job creation, digital inclusion, and youth participation
• Position technology-driven governance as central to Nigeria’s next phase of development

“Professor Yilwatda is not only a scholar but a seasoned technocrat whose contributions to public service and Nigeria’s digital transformation are well documented,” noted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, upon Yilwatda’s emergence as APC National Chairman.

The ICT and telecommunications sector now contributes over 18% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , making it one of the most significant drivers of economic activity and a critical constituency in national development planning.

Distinguished Audience: Who Will Be in the Room

The colloquium will convene an influential cross-section of Nigeria’s economic and policy leadership, including:

• CEOs of ICT and telecom companies– mobile network operators, data centres, ISPs, infrastructure and connectivity providers
• CEOs of financial institutions– banks, fintechs, insurance and insurtech firms
• Heads of key regulatory bodies and government agencies
• Leaders of professional associations– including ICT and engineering bodies
• CEOs of digital education and skills development firms
• Funding institutions and venture capital leaders
• Startup ecosystem founders and innovators
• Heads of academic institutions and research centres

This audience represents the key opinion shapers and economic actors driving Nigeria’s digital transformation, precisely the stakeholders needed to translate political vision into tangible, people-centred outcomes.

State Governors: Critical Partners in Digital Transformation

Recognizing that sub-national governments are essential drivers of digital inclusion and infrastructure expansion, WACC 2026 extends a special invitation to state governors across Nigeria to participate as Special Guests and Strategic Partners.Strategic Value for States

As Nigeria advances toward the 2027 electoral cycle, the forum presents a unique opportunity for states to position themselves as forward-looking investment destinations within Nigeria’s emerging digital economy landscape.

Tangible Benefits for Participating States

Investment Promotion Through Investors Pitch Session
Governors will have the opportunity to present their states’ development priorities, digital economy initiatives, industrial opportunities, and technology-enabled governance strategies directly to ICT and telecom investors actively seeking partnerships with state governments.

Strategic Positioning as a Digital Economy Destination

Participation will highlight states’ potential in:

• Digital infrastructure expansion
• Smart governance and public service innovation
• Youth digital skills development
• Technology-enabled entrepreneurship

This positioning can attract technology companies, innovation hubs, and digital service providers to the state .

Access to Technology and Telecom Industry Leaders

The conference audience includes leaders from Nigeria’s ICT, telecommunications, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and innovation ecosystem—offering states opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP), engagement with technology investors, and exposure to digital solutions that accelerate governance and service delivery .

National Visibility for States’ Development Agenda

Participating states will receive extensive visibility through:

• Pre-event and post-event media coverage
• Featured interviews and press mentions
• Digital promotion across industry platforms
• Thought-leadership positioning in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem

Special Feature in the Nigeria Digital Economy Report 2026
States will be prominently profiled in the Nigeria Digital Economy Special Report 2026, showcasing development priorities, investment opportunities, and governance innovations under each governor’s leadership. The report will be distributed among government agencies, corporate leaders, investors, and international partners.

Direct Engagement with Nigeria’s Digital Economy Leadership
Governors will participate in:

• Industry Colloquium: Humanising Nigeria’s Digital Economy for People-Centred Impact
• 50 Most Influential Figures Recognition Ceremony
• Exclusive Digital Economy Leaders Business Lunch

These engagements provide opportunities for informal dialogue with influential private-sector leaders and policymakers.

“We are confident that the participation of state governors as leaders of Nigeria’s sub-nationals will strengthen collaboration between state governments and Nigeria’s digital economy stakeholders, while advancing opportunities that can deliver jobs, infrastructure growth, and technology-enabled prosperity for the people in their respective states,” said Olusegun Oruame, CEO of Knowhow Media International.

A Legacy Platform for Digital Economy Thought Leadership

The West Africa Convergence Conference has, for over two decades, served as a strategic thought-leadership platform connecting government policy with private-sector innovation. This year’s edition focuses on how emerging digital technologies can accelerate inclusive economic growth, improve governance, and unlock new investment opportunities across Nigeria.

“Building on over two decades of thought leadership through WACC, Top 50 Digital Economy Enablers, and 50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy, this 2026 edition further reinforces the pivotal role of national political actors in shaping Nigeria’s next development cycle,” said Dr. Sola Afolabi, Chairman, WACC & 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026.

Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa since 2004, is a leading media and market intelligence organisation focused on Africa’s technology and digital economy landscape. Through platforms like the West Africa Convergence Conference and the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy, Knowhow Media connects policy, innovation, and investment to drive sustainable development

The Nigeria’s Top 50 Digital Economy Enablers 2023 holds this week in Lagos February 14, 2023 at the prestigious Providence Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

“The Top 50 honours corporate entities and individuals, who embody the struggle, profound insights, stamina, infectious optimism and triumph in the extremely challenging but rewarding Nigeria’s digital economy sector. The Top 50 in itself has become an institutionalised agenda to identify the industry leaders in general and specific aspects of the market,” organises announced at the weekend in Lagos.

“The 2023 edition (with a micro conference) is a coming together of industry players including TechEconomy, TechTV, ITPulse; and TechandBiz.com led by IT Edge News.Africa, to anchor an appraisal of market perforce, market (indigenous) actors and their response to local and global challenges across industry verticals,” said Olusegun Oruame, CEO, Knowhow Media, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa.

The event is a gathering of regulators and operators as the industry recognises its champions to discuss its future in a changing global economy. Confirmed speakers are National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who will be joining other regulators including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and other industry leaders to share insights on the sector’s opportunities and challenges.

According to Chairman, Top 50 2023, Dr. Sola Afolabi, this year worked through a multitude of identifiable metric as the Top 50 does not necessarily benchmark on “the largest tech companies by market capitalization; or by sales/net revenue; or by employment size.”

The focuses on largely indigenous companies, including public institutions that have embraced change, inspiringly handled customer loyalty and retention; despite their size, and have demonstrated uncanny resilience, robustness and responsiveness to the challenges and inherent market opportunities in no easy way.

The 2023 list include Open Access Data Centres (OADC); FinTrak Software Co. Ltd; Ezzential Global Services Ltd; Crystalfix Nigeria LTD (CNL); Cedarview Communications Limited (CCL); Zora Communication Limited; Information Connectivity Solution Limited (ICSL); Unitellas International Limited; Swift Telephone Network Ltd (STN); HD Technologies; Smart Web Nigeria Limited.

The list also has among others: Skymax Integrated Network Limited; ipNX Nigeria Limited; Infratel Limited; Switch Solutions Limited; Broadbased Communications Ltd; Medallion Data Centres Limited; UNICCON Group of Companies (The UNICCON Group); Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN); Precise Financial Systems Ltd; Tezza Business Solutions; and Data Services Protection Limited (DSPL).

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The Nigeria’s Top 50 Digital Economy Enablers 2023 is a rallying ground for private sector players to mutually advance the interest of the industry.