Nigerian fintech professional David Adeleke has highlighted key milestones and strategic engagements following his participation at GITEX Africa 2026, one of the continent’s largest technology gatherings.
Representing Zeeh, Adeleke participated both as a speaker and exhibitor at the event, which attracted more than 1,500 exhibitors and over 55,000 attendees from across the globe. A major highlight of his appearance was pitching at the Visa 10x Stage as part of the Visa Fintech Accelerator Cohort 5, organized in collaboration with Plug and Play Tech Center.
He acknowledged the support of key industry figures, including Michael Maylahn, James Ashton-Smith, and Amine Jdid, as well as Kitawa Wemo and the Digital Cooperation Organization for facilitating exhibition opportunities.
Beyond formal sessions, Adeleke emphasized the value of in-person engagement, noting that long-standing virtual relationships with investors transitioned into face-to-face discussions during the event. He described these interactions as critical for advancing ongoing conversations and partnerships.
The conference also provided networking opportunities with global stakeholders, including Claire Lavielle, Maxime Bouan of Seedstars, and Tosin Faniro-Dada of BREEGA.
Adeleke revealed plans to launch “Project Anthena,” a WhatsApp-based lending and digital banking solution aimed at improving financial access for underserved populations. The initiative builds on insights from the Seedstars Shift Financial Inclusion program.
He also engaged with Adeola Adedewe and the Kredete team, drawing lessons from their recent $22 million fundraising success, as well as industry players such as Christopher Apédo of OVHcloud and Inam Maso.
According to Adeleke, informal “hallway conversations” proved just as valuable as formal presentations, reinforcing the importance of global tech events in fostering collaboration, innovation, and investment across Africa’s growing digital economy.
