ATC Africa, a community focused on building a better future for Africans in technology, hosted this event which brought together over 400 students from various higher institutions in and around Ibadan.

Among the institutions represented were the University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, City Polytechnic Ibadan, Dominion University, Precious Cornerstone University, Ajayi Crowther University, Koladaisi University, Redeemer’s University, Bolmor Polytechnic, Dominican University, Lead City University, LAUTECH (Ogbomoso), The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic (Saki), Federal Cooperative College, Federal School of Statistics (Ibadan), Sapade Polytechnic (Ogun State), Eruwa Polytechnic, First Technical University, Atiba University, and Alayande College of Education (Oyo).

The theme for this year’s event was “Hacking the Ecosystem: Disruptive for Technology Growth,” powered by ATC Africa and led by Tope James Moses, co-founder of the organisation. The theme reiterated the event’s mission to enable a rich technology ecosystem by supporting young talent and supporting innovation.

The Ibadan Students Tech Fest aimed to demystify technology and provide students with the skills needed to scale through the dynamic tech industry. The event connected students with industry experts, offering insights into emerging technologies and encouraging collaboration to drive innovation.

Tope James Moses emphasised the importance of investing in the next generation, stating, “To cultivate a thriving technology ecosystem, we must invest in our youth. By providing opportunities for upskilling, mentorship, and collaboration, we can equip young talent with the resources they need to drive technological advancements across various fields.”

As young talent matures, they are expected to play an important role in propelling the tech ecosystem forward, contributing to a cycle of growth and creativity. The event highlighted the growing tech culture in Ibadan and beyond, with a strong focus on empowering the youth to shape the future.

The Tech Fest featured a diverse range of speakers and panellists, each providing insights into different sectors of the tech industry. They included Dr Seun Fakorede, R.Eng, MNSE, MASCE, Raheema Abisola Adabanija, MNSE, David Adeleke, Ayomide Fajobi, Adedeji Damilare, Segun Ebenezer, Olaniyan Nurudeen, Abiodun Adesokan, Dr Olusola Ayoola, Ayobami Atolagbe, Oluwaseun Hamzat, Richard Afolabi, Tim Oladoyinbo, Ola Okegbemi, Israel Odeajo, Mosopefoluwa Ayodele, Kausar Moshood, Glory Olaifa and Oluwole Saheed Azeez.

These industry experts provided mentorship and shared their experiences, inspiring students to pursue careers in tech.

Activities and Sessions

The event’s highlights included the Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, which tested participants’ skills in cybersecurity and problem-solving. Networking and professional sessions also allowed students to engage with professionals and peers, ensuring collaboration and career growth. 

Added to this, the Serial Interview segment provided an opportunity for students to learn from the experiences of tech professionals, further expanding their knowledge of the industry.

The success of the Ibadan Students Tech Fest 2024 was made possible by the support of various sponsors and partners, including Showmax, Yellow Card, App Tranarc, 1app, Enforca, Gotocourse, Bekkah Artificial Intelligence, Betuptip, Technext, and Techeconomy. Their contributions ensured the event’s smooth execution.

The Ibadan Students Tech Fest 2024 successfully bridged the gap between academia and the tech industry, providing students with the tools they need to drive technological growth in Africa.

This is according to the latest quarterly ranked report released by online media relations management solution, Squirrel PR.

The publishers featured in the technology category are those focused on news platforms with a preponderance of content on startups, the information technology industry, gadgets, etc.

The report took account of 16 tech news platforms in this category within the period under review.

According to the report, only 14 platforms that met the 50,000 minimum quarterly impressions benchmark were considered.

Of these, Technext took the most significant leap in the category between July and September 2023 with 1.8 million views, an 82% increase from the 977,000 it recorded in the previous quarter.

This made it one of the only three platforms in the millionaires club in the tech-focused category. The other two are TechCabal and GadgetStripe.

“Technext made the most improvement this quarter in this category as it did in Q2. Not only did it join the millionaires club, by recording an 82% increase in traffic volume to 1.8 million from 977k, but also displaced NaijaKnowHow and Gadgetstripe as the most visited tech news platform within the period under review”, the report said.

The report indicates that overall Opera News App, Vanguard Online, Punch Online, Legit, and Daily Post emerged as the most visited platforms in Nigeria in Q3. Opera News tops the chart with 45.2 million cumulative views.

Similarly, Business Insider, Nairametrics, and BusinessDay accounted for 88.55% of the total traffic share generated by the online business news segment in the quarter.

Technext’s performance builds on Q2, 2023

This follows an impressive performance by Technext in the previous quarter.

According to the previous Squirrel PR quarterly report (Q1 2023), “Technext made the most improvement in Q1 2023 in the tech-focused platform category enjoying more readership and becoming the second most popular tech news platform.”

Speaking on the development, David Afolayan, Co-founder and Content Chief at Technext explained that the recent numbers reflect the team’s recently improved editorial strategy:

“After participation in the ICFJ Elevate media fellowship, late last year, we developed a comprehensive editorial approach that empowered the team to focus on telling better stories, prioritising quality over quantity, developing personalised content channels and executing strategic events in the ecosystem. It is exciting to see the impact of these small steps less than a year later”, he explained.

At the beginning of the third quarter of 2023, Technext averaged over 500,000 monthly views, over 250,000 unique readers and over 100,000 social media followers. Its daily newsletter bulletin, the Technext daily roundup has over 90,000 subscribers.

The media platform held the third edition of its annual headline event, Technext Coinference in October this year.

Coinference has become the largest gathering of blockchain enthusiasts on the continent.

The first edition, which was held in December 2021, had over 1200 attendees and over 15 speakers.

The second edition, which was held in October 2022, had over 2300 attendees and over 25 speakers.

According to David, this has been a long walk for a tech-focused media platform that started out in 2017 as a brainchild of three friends who felt the need to tell the African tech narrative in a language that everyone can understand:

“It is exciting to see what we have done six years on. We have moved from bootstrapping with our personal funds to running a media platform that has shaped the perception of the ecosystem and helped position players in the space,” said David Afolayan.

“We owe this notable growth to our indefatigable team members who have taken the brand as their own and committed their all to see it succeed. We are also immensely grateful to the shareholders, board members and advisers for the incredible support so far”, he concludes.

Themed, “Innovating for the Future”, the Nigeria Innovation Summit showcased inspiring stories, initiatives, and collaborative efforts aimed at addressing some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. 

Sponsored by the visionary support of TotalEnergies, the programme’s partners included Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), CoinEx, CcHUB, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), TechEconomy, Technext, among others, surging with energy and promise.

Tony Ajah, the Programme Director of the Nigeria Innovation Summit, set the tone with welcome remarks. He emphasized the power of dialogue in driving change, stressing that talk, far from being cheap, is the precursor to transformative action. Strategic connections, he noted, are the linchpin to impactful collaborations, giving birth to a community of innovators across diverse sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and security.

“We bring people together for a forward thinking conversation. It begins with talking about it. If you want to address a problem, you must talk about it. 

People say talk is cheap, but talk is cheap only to people who do not have the capacity to make it happen. We talk about areas we want to improve, like the process that will reduce the traffic in Lagos for instance. 

The next is strategic connection, we align in our discussions and see how we can connect to see what we can give birth to and that will lead to strategic collaborations. That collaboration will help us form a community of like-minds who can identify problems in different sectors including health, agriculture, education, security and several areas where we see how to grow and sustain the mind that has started out  in solving the problems we have identified.”

The summit resonated with stories of resilience and ingenuity. Chukwuemeka George Eze, the tenacious mind behind Revive Earth, shared his journey of overcoming obstacles to create electric vehicles, inspired by the spirit of giants like Tesla. Gbenga Sesan, the founder of Paradigm Initiative, ignited the audience with his call for youth to seize digital opportunities, urging them to carve their own paths amid challenges.

The imperative intersection of technology and agriculture found a voice in Ibrahim Maigari Ahmadu, Founder/CEO of RiceAfrika Technologies. Ahmadu revealed the stark realities faced by smallholder farmers in Nigeria and unveiled transformative solutions, emphasizing that Africa’s agricultural revolution lies in investment, not aid.

He outlined key necessities such as land preparation equipment, high-yielding seeds, and structured markets. Ahmadu’s innovative approach focused on community agency networks, unlearning/relearning, incentivization, and adoption, creating a significant impact on agricultural productivity.

Dr. Funmi Adewara, the Founder/CEO of Mobihealth International, illuminated the summit with her vision to enhance medical accessibility. Her company, founded in Nigeria and embraced globally, stands as a pioneer of affordable healthcare solutions. The company pioneered affordable medical insurance, ensuring that individuals can access healthcare services. MobiHealth’s success story highlighted the power of innovative solutions in addressing healthcare disparities.

Orok Godspower, CoinEx Nigeria Partner/Country Manager, unveiled the future of payments, simplifying the complexities of blockchain and championing a fraud-free digital landscape.

He emphasized the role of education in reducing the risks associated with blockchain, ensuring a seamless and secure experience. CoinEx Nigeria’s approach highlighted the transformative potential of digital assets in shaping the future of payments.

Jonny Baxter, the insightful British Deputy High Commissioner, highlighted the essence of partnerships in shaping future economies. His words resonated with the attendees, highlighting the need for collective efforts to streamline processes and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria.

Amidst the vibrant discussions and innovative fervor, the Nigeria Innovation Summit left a memorable mark, not merely as an event but as a force behind the nation’s persistent spirit to innovate, collaborate, and lead in shaping a progressive future.

As Nigeria embraces innovation, partnerships, and education, the nation is set to create a future where creativity and technology converge to drive progress and prosperity for all. This summit not only celebrated innovation but also ignited a spark for a brighter, more innovative future for Nigeria.

The event brought together diverse range of traditional entrepreneurs, startup founders, industry experts and thought leaders for a transformative experience of learning, earning, networking, and collaboration.

At the Trade Lenda Fair, a plethora of products, services, and innovative solutions across various industries were showcased. The exhibitors came from across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Kwara state, reflecting the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and creativity that defines SMEs in Nigeria.

One of the key highlights of the event was the keynote address by the Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who shared his journey of entrepreneurship from 1979 till date. 

Several masterclasses were conducted by industry leaders and subject-matter experts within the SME ecosystem in Nigeria. These in-depth workshops on starting, financing, marketing and systems development provided participants with actionable insights, practical strategies, and knowledge essential for driving their business growth and adapting to evolving market trends.

The panel sessions, another feature of the event, was facilitated by notable SME brands and SMEs enablers who shared their stories, expertise, valuable insights and perspectives on subjects such as starting, scaling, digitalizing and leveraging interventions. The deep dive conversations served as interactive dialogue, sparking new ideas and approaches that have the potential to reshape the SME landscape.

Another high point was the award of prizes to the tune of N5 million to the top five winners of the pitch competition. The first prize winner (Posh Meals) also won an all-expense trip to Qatar.

“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and outcome of the Trade Lenda Fair,” said Adeshina Adewumi, CEO, Trade Lenda and Convener of the Trade Lenda Fair.

“The event provided a unique opportunity for SMEs to connect, learn, and collaborate. The masterclasses and panel sessions, in particular, empowered attendees with the knowledge and inspiration needed to elevate their businesses to new heights.”

He further added that “the success of Trade Lenda Fair can be attributed to the unwavering support of our sponsors: Providus, Eazipay, RedCloud, Paystack and our partners Techeconomy, Credo, Baobab+, Lagos Business School, Shuttlers, Niteon, Changera, Money Africa, LSETF, TechNext, TechCabal and TechPoint. Their collective enthusiasm and dedication have created an environment of innovation and growth, contributing to the event’s impact on the SME ecosystem.”

The Trade Lenda Fair has set a new benchmark for facilitating meaningful interactions, fostering learning, and igniting inspiration within the SME community in Nigeria. As the curtains draw on this year’s event, the organizers look forward to building on this success and continuing to empower SMEs with opportunities and solutions that propel them towards prosperity.

More about Trade Lenda

It is Nigeria’s premier digital lending fintech brand and the Trade Lenda Fair is an annual flagship platform that brings together SMEs, industry experts, and stakeholders to showcase their offerings, share knowledge, and foster collaboration., the event aims to empower SMEs with the tools, insights, and connections needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.

To decipher the concepts of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi)  and discuss the issues surrounding them, Technext is bringing together key players in the African crypto ecosystem, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, innovators and regulators.

Billed to hold on Monday, the 3rd of October, 2022 at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, the event — which happens to be the second edition — is themed, Blockchain and DeFi: Beyond the Hype.

The scope of the conversation will cover the possibilities of Blockchain, Crypto, Web3 and DeFi for Africa.

Technext Coinference 2.0 promises engaging conversations from the plenary keynotes to the breakout panel sessions as well as the celebrity spotlight.

Meet the sponsors of the event

Polygon

The headline sponsor is Polygon, a leading blockchain infrastructure development company. Founded in 2017, Polygon—formerly known as Matic Network—is an Ethereum scaling platform that offers scalable, affordable, secure, and sustainable blockchains for Web3. 

Its growing suite of products offers developers easy access to major scaling solutions including L2 (ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups), sidechains, hybrid, stand-alone and enterprise chains, and data availability. Polygon’s scaling solutions have seen widespread adoption with 19,000+ decentralized applications hosted, 1.6B+ total transactions processed, 142M+ unique user addresses, and $5B+ in assets secured.

Hashgreed

Hashgreed is the first African marketplace for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Hashgreed provides a blockchain-powered file certification tool, a multipurpose NFT/ web3 marketplace, access to real estate and tech startup ownership and low-interest DeFi-powered loans.

Launched in January 2021, the company prides itself on making NFT easy and accessible for Africans.

Efosa Ighodaro, the CEO/Founder of Hashgreed will be speaking during the final panel session, Making money from NFTs, at Technext Coinference 2.0.

GIGXPad

GIGXPad, widely tagged “the crypto bank”, is an emerging exchange that is gradually becoming marketable in the Nigerian crypto space.

This platform enables users to buy, store, swap, send, borrow, stake, and earn returns from real-world business assets directly with close to zero fees. They have Android and iOS mobile apps and an easy-to-navigate website. GIGX was the headline sponsor of the maiden edition of Technext Coinference 1.0.

Bitmama

Bitmama, the US and Africa-based blockchain payments startup, is a highly-secured and fast-growing crypto platform to buy, sell or trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Celo and other cryptocurrencies at the best rates. Currently in three African markets; Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, Bitmama enables users to be able to buy and sell cryptocurrencies conveniently using their debit cards.

Founded in 2019 by Ruth Iselema, the platform also allows users to carry out regular online payments, pay utilities and perform transactions such as staking to hedge against currency devaluation. The company recently raised a $2 million pre-seed fund.

Ruth Iselema is one of the confirmed speakers for the panel conversation on Crypto x Africa: the strains, the gains and the future at Technext Coinference 2.0.

VIBRA

VIBRA is a user-friendly platform for both newbies and crypto enthusiasts. VIBRA, a product of African Blockchain Lab, is a cryptocurrency wallet and social app that was created to spread knowledge about cryptocurrency and the usage of cryptocurrency in Africa.

The platform teaches beginner-friendly cryptocurrency lessons through blog posts, social media, AMA sessions, and the Telegram crypto community. It describes itself as the “number one crypto marketplace in Africa”.

Basira

Basira is a peer-to-peer market that facilitates payment of utility bills, cryptocurrency exchanges, and other digital assets. The platform allows users to trade their digital currencies and assets such as bitcoin and Ethereum with other people.

In January, the company founded by Kehinde Ogunkanmi was one of the 25 startups selected for a 12-month venture building programme by Adanian Labs.

Technext Coinference 2.0 will be a hybrid event (a combination of physical and virtual participation). You can simply register to attend the event here.

This second edition of Technext Coinference, themed “Blockchain and DeFi – Beyond the Hype,” is billed to hold on Monday, October 3, 2022, at Landmark Events Centre, Lagos. With a proposed physical audience of at least 2,000 and a virtual attendance of at least 3,000, the event is set to be the biggest gathering of players in the blockchain space.

According to David Afolayan, the Content Chief at Technext, conversations need to expand as there are exciting possibilities of Blockchain that can develop economies.

“As a tech-driven media house that aims at providing people-oriented content and that has the mission to contribute to the growth of the African space, our purpose is to lead a timely conversation that will enable regulators, innovators and enthusiasts to find a common ground for a geometric growth in the blockchain space”, he added.

The event promises a line-up of influential speakers that will share insightful thoughts that will inspire the attendees to take advantage of the numerous benefits of blockchain. Among the list of confirmed speakers include Emmanuel (Babz) Babalola, CEO, Bundle Africa; Ruth Isalema, CEO, Bitmama; Efosa Ighodaro, Founder/CEO, Hashgreed; Oluchi Enebeli, Founder, Web3Ladies; Ayodeji Awosika, Founder, Web3Bridge; Famous Ehichioya, CTO, YouVerify, more speakers to be announced.

Registered delegates will anticipate discussions on Web 3.0, Crypto, NFT, and the Metaverse.

The first keynote presentation: “Blockchain for Africa Decentralised economies, merged future” will set the tone for the event by bringing to the fore the possibilities that adopting blockchain technology can mean for Africa. This will be followed by the breakout panel sessions. Each session will have 4 panellists with hands-on experiences.

They include:

• DeFi & the future of finance in Africa
• Building a career in Blockchain
• All you need to know about Web 3
• Making money from NFTs

The second keynote is themed: “DeFi – Beyond the Hype,” and will bring to the fore conversations on Decentralised Finance and its use case in Africa.

The Technext Coinference will also provide a visible platform for key players in the blockchain ecosystem across Africa to reach an audience of young, enthusiastic and ready Africans all in one place. It will also provide an exciting opportunity for blockchain enthusiasts to meet other enthusiasts, develop ideas and positions for future gain.

This will be a hybrid event (a combination of physical and virtual participation). Hence, people can register to attend in December from anywhere across the world. It is also open to all and free to attend.

How to Participate:

To register, click on this link now.

Here’s a recap of Technext Coinference 1.0:

With a proposed physical audience of at least 1,500 and a virtual attendance of at least 3,000, the event is billed to be the biggest gathering of government policymakers, political influencers, tech industry players, and enthusiasts in Africa.

The one-day event will provide an opportunity for players in the African tech ecosystem to engage with government stakeholders on contemporary issues affecting the tech industry.

Going forward, GAT Summit will be an annual event where tech industry players will have the opportunity to openly discuss the effect of regulations with policymakers across Africa and proffer solutions that will accelerate growth.

Registered delegates will anticipate discussions  about major issues around three sub-sectors of the ecosystem: financial technology (Fintech), Media regulation and technology for governance (Govtech).

The panel session will be moderated by popular Arise Tv presenter, Rufai Oseni.

The keynote address will be delivered by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwoolu and graced by representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, NITDA and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Other confirmed speakers at the event include Hanu Agbodje- Founder, CEO, Patricia, Bukola Olutayo, Managing Director, Stellas Bank, Yomi Adedeji, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Softcom Limited and Oluwemimo J. Osanipin, COO, JET Motors.

This year’s event has been jointly organized by Technext, one of Africa’s leading tech-driven media platforms, Ripples Nigeria, African multimedia online news platform and the Voice of the People 90.3FM, a Lagos-based people-focused talk radio.

The GAT Summit will be a hybrid event (a combination of physical and virtual participation). So, interested Africans will be able to attend from anywhere in the world!

The GAT Summit event will also provide a visible platform for key players in the tech ecosystem across Africa to reach an audience of young, enthusiastic and ready Africans all in one place.

The event is going to be a FREE to attend event. To attend, register to get your ticket here.