NITDA Targets 4,000 Investors @ GITEX 2014

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said that Nigeria will leverage on its country-partnership with Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) to showcase the nation’s information technology (IT) potentials to over 4,000 investors aside other high profile participants expected at the event holding at the United Arab Emirates in October 2014.

Meanwhile, to ensure Nigeria derives optimal benefits at the Gitex Technology Show holding in Dubai this October, Mr. peter Jack, director general of NITDA inaugurated a Gitex Local Organising Committee (LOC) chaired by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, deputy director, Corporate Strategy and Research at the Agency.

The LOC is tasked with ensuring Nigeria’s successful participation through pre-show work-plans.

Speaking to journalists at the ongoing NCS Conference holding in Enugu, Olatunji, Nigeria is the official Country Partner for Gitex 2014, which is the premier Technology event in the Middle East Africa and South Asia (MEASA).

Also, more than 35,000 visitors came from Africa in the 2013 edition of GITEX where Nigeria premiered its presence by setting up the Nigerian Pavilion which was promoted NITDA.

He said that, this year, Nigeria is riding on its last year’s presence as Official Country Partner to become the centre of thematic activities for the five day technology expo and conference in Dubai.

He said Nigeria’s presence at Gitex would offer the opportunity to explore international opportunities for collaborations and investments that would further advance Nigeria’s burgeoning IT sector.

He cited examples of countries like South Korea and India where IT alone contribute over $200 billion to the economy, adding that 100 other countries will be in attendance to at the event.

Olatunji said, “The NITDA is determined to position Nigeria in that light, and would work through multilateral stakeholders approach to get everyone involved and achieve our core goals at NITDA. For instance, we are targeting foreign direct investment (FDI) knowing that participants will be open to know about IT potentials in Nigeria. We are leveraging on the opportunities provided by GITEX which has been in existence for 30 years”.

The LOC Chairman said NITDA is committed to ensure Nigeria’s presence at Gitex 2014 is a success, adding that it shows government’s support for IT development at all levels. About four years ago, the ICT sector contributed less than 5% to the GDP, currently, it contributes 9%. We want to see a situation is reaches 20% in the next few years.

“It is in the spirit of partnership that NITDA has invited other agencies to be part of this preparation and we believe that this is imperative to achieve best results,” he noted.

Bilal Al-Rais, commercial director, Exhibition & Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre, said that highlighted GITEX Technology Week 2014 is the gateway to the Middle East, Africa and South Asia's ICT Industry.

He said that participants shall be top technology brands from around the world, exciting interactive features and cutting edge conference programmes that will have about 40 other countries are taking similar steps like Nigeria in developing their IT platforms.

Al-Rais added a need for all stakeholders to strongly get everybody who has something innovating to showcase at Gitex to use it as a global platform to show the world what Nigerians are doing.

On his part, Mr. Akande Ojo, president and chief executive officer, Pinnacle International Consulting Limited, said that preparations had begun already since Nigeria officially enlisted to be partner for Gitex 2014.

According to him, there was need for the every sector of the economy to partake in the trend, as the result will impact positively on the country’s transformation agenda.

The LOC members were drawn from different private and public sectors organizations including Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Computer Professional Registration Council (CPN), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), National Association of Computers Science Students (NACOSS), Nigeria Satellite Communications Limited (NigComSat), and Information Technology Industries Association of Nigeria (ITAN).

Others are Pinnacle Consult LLC and Knowhow Media International – both marketing and media consultants on Nigeria’s participation at Gitex 2014.





 

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