Why Dubai World Trade Centre is Bringing Global Investors to Nigeria Next Year

The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is bringing its juice to Nigeria in 2025, aiming to attract global investors through its renowned GITEX technology expo. 

Trixie LohMirmand, the Executive Vice President of DWTC, announced this during a recent breakfast meeting at GITEX Global in Dubai, where she mentioned the enormous potential of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.

LohMirmand explained that while Nigerian startups have been traveling to Dubai to seek investment opportunities, the number of startups able to make this journey is limited. Each year, only about 24 Nigerian startups get to participate in these opportunities, while Nigeria has over 6,000 startups actively seeking funding.

This disparity led DWTC to realize the need to bring the global investment community to Nigeria, giving the country’s vast pool of talent better access to capital and connections.

“We can only bring in 24 companies from over 6,000 startups in Nigeria. This is hardly representative of the potential, the energy, the passion, and the talent that is sitting in Nigeria,” LohMirmand said. Recognizing this gap, DWTC is now partnering with the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Communications, and various state-level agencies to bring the GITEX expo to Nigeria in 2025.

Why Nigeria? Why Now?

LohMirmand addressed the global audience, stressing that Nigeria represents Africa’s largest market for artificial intelligence (AI). She believes that Nigeria is poised to become an AI powerhouse, and global investors will need to pay attention to the country’s role in the future of AI development.

“For startups in Nigeria, this is an opportunity to gain access to capital and benchmark against global standards in a large-scale format. And this is crucial in the age of AI,” LohMirmand emphasized. 

She noted that while Nigeria has always been a player on the global stage, the current surge in AI technologies makes it the right time for Nigeria to shine as a leading force in the field.

She explained that Africa’s unique context, particularly Nigeria’s, is essential for developing effective AI models and algorithms. “You cannot do your large language models and your algorithms without the context of Africa, and you cannot do it without Nigeria, and this is why it is very significant for us,” LohMirmand added.

Nigeria’s readiness to host GITEX

The Nigerian government is equally enthusiastic about the opportunity to host GITEX in 2025. During the breakfast meeting in Dubai, Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), underscored the government’s commitment to fostering technological growth in the country. 

Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, is focused on driving the country’s development through technology and has tasked the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, along with NITDA, to make technology a central pillar of the nation’s progress.

According to Inuwa, technology now contributes over 16% to Nigeria’s GDP, surpassing the oil and gas sector, which accounts for around 7%. The country’s youth population, which makes up 70% of its 220 million people, represents a massive opportunity for growth in the tech industry. 

The Nigerian government, alongside industry stakeholders, is working hard to ensure that GITEX Nigeria 2025 will be a success, positioning the country as a hub for global tech investment.

Senator Salisu Afolabi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT, also expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host GITEX. He reassured investors that the country is prepared to do everything possible to make the event successful and emphasized the immense potential Nigeria holds for tech-driven growth.

What GITEX Brings to Nigeria

GITEX Global, organized by DWTC, is known as the world’s largest tech event, attracting thousands of startups, investors, and industry leaders. 

The event’s startup-focused section, Expand North Star, provides a platform for startups to connect with investors and accelerators, share the latest industry insights, and secure funding for their businesses.

This year’s edition of GITEX featured more than 1,800 exhibiting startups and over 1,200 investors, managing assets worth more than $1 trillion. For Nigerian startups, hosting GITEX in their home country will provide unprecedented access to global investors, industry leaders, and partnerships that could accelerate their growth and help them scale their businesses.