Announcements Economy Education Events Society

Maida, Inuwa, Adeyanju, Alakija, others Unveiled as Speakers for AfriTECH 4.0

 

 

The organizers of Africa Tech Alliance Forum [AfriTECH 4.0] have announced the distinguished lineup of speakers for this year’s Forum themed: “Leapfrogging Digital Transformation for Future of Africa’s Economy”.

 

Scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 07, 2024 at Oriental Hotels, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, AfriTECH 4.0 [https://africatechallianceforum.africa/] will bring together leading voices in technology, telecommunications, ecommerce, software, finance, emerging technologies and government to explore key innovations and challenges shaping Africa’s digital transformation.

 

AfriTECH has become one of Africa’s most anticipated technology events, and the 2024 edition will feature a stellar lineup of industry experts, innovators, and policymakers who will provide insights into how emerging technologies are propelling Africa’s digital economy.

 

Special Guests:

Dr. Aminu Maida, a distinguished leader in telecommunications and digital transformation, serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

 

With over two decades of experience in the ICT sector, Maida has become a pivotal figure in driving Nigeria’s digital economy, overseeing regulatory frameworks and initiatives that foster innovation, investment, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s telecom industry.

 

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, is a transformative leader in Nigeria’s technology landscape, currently serving as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

 

Under his guidance, NITDA has driven impactful initiatives supporting Nigeria’s digital economy, fostering innovation, digital skills development, and creating an enabling environment for tech startups and entrepreneurship.

 

He will deliver the keynote address at AfriTECH 4.0.

 

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju is the CEO of Galaxy Backbone, a key government-owned technology and digital infrastructure company. Under his leadership, Galaxy Backbone focuses on strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem by providing secure and innovative ICT infrastructure to government agencies and businesses, supporting national development and e-governance initiatives.

 

Biram Fall, the Regional Managing Director, QNET, a leading e-commerce-based direct selling company.

 

In his role, Mr. Fall oversees QNET’s operations and growth strategies across several markets, focusing on enhancing regional reach and ensuring the company aligns with local business needs.

 

Known for his expertise in direct-selling and his commitment to sustainable business practices, Fall has been instrumental in expanding QNET’s footprint in Africa and other emerging markets.

 

Ebehijie Momoh is a renowned financial services leader with over 20 years of experience in banking and payment technology, currently serving as CEO of AfrigoPay Financial Services Limited, where she leads the company’s mission to provide innovative payment solutions across Africa.

 

With a background in financial services and a deep understanding of digital payments, Momoh brings extensive experience to her role, focusing on transforming the financial landscape through accessible, secure, and efficient payment systems.

 

Her leadership emphasizes financial inclusion, driving AfrigoPay’s efforts to reach underserved communities and promote economic empowerment across the continent.

 

Dr. Muhammed Sirajo Aliyu is a visionary leader in Nigeria’s information technology sector. He is the incumbent President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the foremost association of IT professionals in Nigeria.

 

With an extensive background in computer science, IT governance, and digital innovation, Dr. Aliyu brings over 25 years of experience to his role, where he champions the advancement of technology and professional development within Nigeria’s IT ecosystem.

 

Dr. Temitope Alakija, a renowned academic and statistician, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Statistics at Yaba College of Technology [Yabatech] Lagos. With a deep expertise in data science, statistical analysis, and quantitative research, Dr. Alakija is dedicated to advancing the field of statistics and training future leaders in data-driven decision-making.

 

Holding a PhD in statistics and with numerous publications, Dr. Alakija’s research contributions have significantly influenced both academia and industry, particularly within Africa. Her commitment to academic excellence and her role in fostering a data-literate society make her a highly respected figure in the statistical community.

 

Adesola Akinsanya – President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). He is a distinguished leader in Nigeria’s technology sector and the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the premier organization for IT professionals in the country. With a robust background in computer science, information technology, and digital strategy, Akinsanya brings decades of expertise to his role, where he advocates for technological innovation, professional growth, and policy advancement in Nigeria’s IT landscape.

 

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). Engr. Adebayo is a prominent figure in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, with over 25 years of experience in telecom and ICT. He is known for his advocacy for industry development, regulatory reform, and the provision of accessible telecommunications services across Nigeria.

 

Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere – President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). With an extensive background in telecom management, digital strategy, and regulatory advocacy, Emoekpere is dedicated to advancing Nigeria’s telecom industry and fostering an environment that promotes innovation, investment, and inclusivity.

 

Key Speakers for AfriTECH 4.0:

 

Engineer Ikechukwu Nnamani – CEO, Digital Realty (Nigeria). In his keynote presentation at AfriTECH 4.0, Engr. Nnamani is expected to share his expertise on building resilient telecommunications infrastructure to support Africa’s digital future.

 

For over 16 years under his leadership the Digital Realty datacenter in Lagos is rated the most interconnected facility in the West African sub-region being the number 1 peering point for the region and boosting all submarine cables in the region, long distance providers, metro fiber providers, mobile services providers, fixed services providers, OTT providers, Internet Exchange, VAS providers, and global Tier1 service providers, amongst others.

 

Other outstanding personalities confirmed as speakers include – Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale, Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode Limited; Mr. Emmanuel Amos, Founder – Programos Foundation/InnovationBed Africa; Chukwuebuka Ume-Ezeoke, Chief Technology Officer at CED Technologies; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Founder, Hyperspace Technologies; Happiness Obioha, Managing Director, Tecom Concepts Limited; Chukwuemeka Mbaebie, Convener, Lagos Blockchain Week; Akeem Ajisafe, Managing Director, Transblue Limited; Chika Nwosu, Managing Director, PalmPay; Jude Ozinegbe, Founder/Convener at Cyberchain; Mohammed Rudman, CEO, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria [IXPN]; Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO Open Access Data Centres (OADC); Kehinde Ogundare, country manager, ZOHO [Nigeria]; Ayodeji Ogunmola, Director, Products Management at Northsnow Ltd; Oluwakayode Durodola, founder, Otuntech Limited; Lovelyn Okafor, Country Head, Nigeria at Newmark; Olaniyi Ibraheem, Business Development Manager (Africa) at UBankConnect; Adedamola Bowale, Co-founder & Technical Lead at Avancee Pinnacle, and Moniade Adeniyi, Product Innovation & Business Growth Strategist, Northsnow Ltd.

 

Meanwhile, innovationbed Africa is set to host “Startup Showcase” at AfriTECH, a session dedicating to startup finalists for this year’s United Nations World Summit Awards. Discussants include – David-Bobola Ojoawo, the Producer for Compas.AI; Stephen Adeyemo of Expertplug; Siro Collins, CEO of Advanced Engineering Center (AEC), WSA Winner 2023; Elijah Moses, Producer for VerionX; Rasheed Aliu Producer for LOOPBOX; Musami Umar Musam, founder of RollMal; David Ezeonyekwere, the founder of CheapMarketDeal, and Sule Wisdom David, the founder of CyclexAfrica.

 

QNET is the gold sponsor of AfriTECH 40. Silver Sponsors – Galaxy Backbone, Digital Realty, Digital Encode Ltd. Bronze Sponsors – CED Technologies, AfriGoPay, Tecom, Northsnow UK, Hyperspace Technologies, Palmpay, OADC.

 

Ecosystem Partners: NCC, NITDA,, InnovationBed Africa, ALTON, ATCON, NCS, IXPN, NiRA, Lagos Blockchain Week, Newmark Group, all are supporting AfriTECH 4.0.

 

Media Partners include; Techeconomy, NigeriaCommunicationsWeek, ITPulse, Ravenews, TechTrends.Africa, TechBuild.Africa, GrassRoots, DigiVation Network, TechLifewithUgo, BusinessMetrics, BusinessRemarks, SwiftReporters, TechTV, Africa Hyperscalers Media, CyberEra, ITRealms, DigitalTimes, TechnologyMirror, TechandBizNews, ITNewsNigeria.

 

“AfriTECH 4.0 will also feature interactive panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions that will explore other critical topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, fintech, smart cities, and sustainable innovation”, said Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-convener of AfriTECH. “We are grateful to the sponsors and partners”.

 

“Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers, as well as network with other industry leaders, innovators, and investors”, he added.

 

Participation

Participation is free, but you are required to pre-register: https://bit.ly/3ZPdi88

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may also like

Business Culture Economy

VP Shettima Inaugurates Interministerial Committee to Drive Nigeria’s Innovation Economy

post-image

 In a strategic move to position Nigeria as a global innovation hub and achieve a trillion-dollar economy within the next decade, Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Interministerial Committee on Research and Innovation. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking during the event, Vice President Shettima emphasized the committee’s mandate to champion food security, energy sufficiency, and a reduction in the country’s dependence on imports. He noted that the initiative is a critical component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader vision to harness both intellectual and financial capital to propel Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“This is not merely the inauguration of a committee,” the Vice President said, “but the activation of a bold mission: to build Nigeria into an innovation-driven, trillion-dollar economy within a decade. The future we desire is not something we inherit; it…

Read More
Business Economy Finance Fintech

PAFON 2.0: Experts Highlight Ingredients for Accelerated Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

post-image

 

Improved efforts at collaboration among financial service providers, telecommunication operators, and tech Startups, with conscious effort geared at consumer awareness, have been proffered as key remedies to the challenge of financial inclusion in the country.

This is the viewpoint of stakeholders that gathered for the second edition of Payment Forum Nigeria (PAFON 2.0) held recently in Lagos.

Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI”, Ebehijie Momoh (Mrs.), the managing director and chief executive officer of AfriGoPay Financial Services Limited, said that with 64% of Nigerian adults being financial included the country has made immense progress in that regards.

She said that between 2012 till date, the country has recorded robust regulatory reforms, especially the launch of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in 2014 making it easier to identify and track customers across different banks.

“This initiative enhanced the credibility of the financial sector…

Read More
Business Culture Entertainment

Premier Records Celebrates 62 Years of Musical Excellence and Cultural Legacy

post-image

One of Africa’s most iconic music labels, Premier Records Limited, is proudly celebrating its 62nd anniversary, marking over six decades of shaping Nigeria’s soundscape and preserving its rich musical heritage.

Founded in 1963, Premier Records has remained a trailblazer in the African music industry, championing artistic excellence, innovation, and cultural preservation. According to Michael Odiong, a senior executive at the label, “62 and still counting!” — a testament to the brand’s enduring influence and unwavering commitment to music.

As the third-oldest record label in Africa, Premier Records boasts a legacy that spans generations, having supported and promoted a diverse range of genres from highlife and afrobeat to gospel, hip hop, and contemporary sounds.

The label’s deep catalog of timeless recordings, alongside a forward-looking vision, continues to inspire both budding and established artists. Through strategic investments in talent development and genre diversity, Premier Records has ensured that every voice finds a platform and…

Read More
Business Economy

Lagos, Rivers, Ogun Lead Nigeria’s Domestic Debt Profile in 2024 — DMO

post-image

 

As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic headwinds, new data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) has shed light on the growing financial burdens carried by state governments across the country. Topping the list is Lagos State, with a staggering domestic debt of ₦900.19 billion as of December 2024—more than double that of the second-highest debtor, Rivers State.

Rivers State’s debt stands at ₦364.39 billion, reflecting its own share of the fiscal strain, while Ogun State, another South-Western state, is third with ₦211.86 billion. Delta State follows closely with ₦199.58 billion in domestic debt, and Bauchi, the leading state from the North-East, takes the fifth spot with ₦143.95 billion.

Other states in the top 10 include Niger (₦140.74 billion), Imo (₦126.14 billion), Benue (₦122.58 billion), Akwa Ibom (₦122.19 billion), and Enugu (₦119.28 billion). These figures reflect the financial realities many governors face as they attempt to fund development projects, pay salaries,…

Read More
Business Economy Government

Tinubu Is an Asset to Northern Nigeria and the Nation — Defence Minister Matawalle

post-image

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a significant asset to Northern Nigeria and the country as a whole, urging citizens to dismiss what he termed “baseless and politically motivated” criticisms against the president.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by his Special Assistant on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Goga, Matawalle, who previously served as Governor of Zamfara State, condemned recent attacks on Tinubu, asserting that they are driven by individuals who failed to secure their political ambitions.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to addressing the challenges facing our region,” the minister stated. “Those attacking him with propaganda are only seeking relevance after failing to secure their political future.”

He accused unnamed political figures of sponsoring misinformation campaigns as a way to divert attention from their own lackluster performance while in office. “These individuals had the opportunity to lead but left no…

Read More
Business Economy Technology Technology Trends

BorderlessTek Launches Lifeline for Underprivileged Nigerian Children Through Coding

post-image

 

In a powerful intervention against digital exclusion, a UK-based Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Wale Atekoja, is rewriting the future of disadvantaged children in Lagos, one line of code at a time.

His organization, Borderless Tek, has launched the Kids Coding Partnership — a grassroots tech education program designed to equip underprivileged schoolchildren in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

This is not just another CSR initiative. It’s a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalize low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

“We’ve been teaching Black kids in Europe how to code, but what about those back home?” says Wale Atekoja, better known as @AtexXeta on social media. “We’re not targeting the privileged. We’re starting with the forgotten — the children who have never touched a laptop.”

 

The first three-month cohort of the program is scheduled…

Read More
Business Economy

NITDA Boss Hosts Gambian Minister at GITEX Africa, Discusses Strategic Tech Collaboration

post-image

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has welcomed the Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbi, Esq., to the Nigerian Pavilion at the ongoing GITEX Africa in Marrakech.

The high-level meeting focused on deepening bilateral collaboration in the digital economy space, with particular emphasis on revitalising the Gambian tech ecosystem and fostering regional innovation. Discussions also covered plans for the Gambian delegation’s active participation in GITEX Nigeria, slated for September 2025.

Highlighting the need to boost digital trade between Nigeria and Gambia, Abdullahi stressed the importance of fostering closer ties among tech startups, innovation hubs, and venture capitalists across both countries. He further encouraged the adoption of supportive policy frameworks—such as tax holidays for startups in Gambia—as a catalyst for driving innovation, attracting investment, and strengthening cross-border partnerships in West Africa’s digital economy.

Read More
Business Culture Economy News

Southeast Nigeria Leads in Self-Made Billionaires, Not Ritualists – Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo Declares

post-image

A renowned radio personality and social commentator, Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo, has sparked conversation on social media with his bold statement debunking the myth surrounding wealthy individuals from Southeast Nigeria. According to Utchaychukwuo, the wealth of Igbo businessmen is not rooted in ritual practices but in hard work, smart networking, and deep business acumen.

In a recent statement shared online, Utchaychukwuo noted that the southeastern region of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo ethnic group, is home to the highest number of self-made billionaires in the country. “These are not people who looted public funds,” he emphasized, “but entrepreneurs who have built legitimate empires.”

He pointed to events such as the high-profile burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother, which drew nationwide attention due to the extravagant displays of wealth. While some questioned the sources of the funds, Utchaychukwuo clarified that many of those in attendance were top importers, exporters, and sole distributors…

Read More