It was an opportunity for Lagos State to strengthen its push for Africa’s leading innovation hub, as it showcased its growing startup ecosystem, connect innovators with investors and deepen conversations around digital transformation across Nigeria, at this year’s GITEX Nigeria 2026, held recently, in Lagos.
The Lagos leg of the two-day technology gathering provided a broad platform for conversations around the continent’s digital future. The event also saw the state reaffirm its position at the heart of Africa’s technology and innovation conversation, with the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST) under Honourable Olatunbosun Alake, fronting the state’s charge at the event.
Alake highlighted the state’s implementation policy framework, enterprise architecture and IT education, alongside efforts to standardise data, audit systems holding state information, operate an Oracle-based Applicant Resourcing Platform and maintain a fully digital payroll system.
Representing Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the opening ceremony, deputy governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, explained that the decision to bring GITEX to the state reflected its growing importance within Africa’s technology landscape.
He reiterated the administration’s ambition to move Lagos beyond its traditional identity as Nigeria’s commercial capital towards becoming Africa’s innovation hub, pointing to the state’s nearly 1,000 active startups as evidence of the depth of its technology ecosystem.
More than two dozen startups and technology companies, spanning artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, edtech, agritech and logistics, were visible on the exhibition floor.
A major highlight of Lagos’ participation came on the second day with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Pitch Programme, organised in partnership with TechQuestSTEM Academy and MIST.
The initiative provided selected founders with an opportunity to present their businesses, solutions and growth plans directly to investors and other ecosystem stakeholders.