The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed expectations that Nigerians-individuals and organizations will seize the opportunities in participation at the forthcoming Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) and participate at the event.
GITEX is an annual consumer computer and electronics trade show, exhibition and conference which takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nigeria is the official Country Partner for Gitex 2014.
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 by the Nigerian Government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
This year, the country is revving up 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.
The LOC is tasked with ensuring Nigeria’s successful participation through pre-show work-plans.
While inaugurating the LOC in Abuja recently, Mr. Peter Jack, director general/chief executive officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said NITDA has a new vision and the agency would genuinely pursue IT development aggressively to position Nigeria in the global society.
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.
“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,” Jack said.
Meanwhile, NITDA, at the weekend, showed its interest in having delegates from Nigeria at the event, by sending reminder message through the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) website.
The message reads: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria Invites you to join The Nigerian Delegation to GITEX Technology Show 2014 holding at the World Trade Center, Dubai from October 12-16, 2014”.
2014 GITEX Features, Nigeria Pavilion to promote innovators, Entrepreneurs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); NITDA Knowledge Hub for Young Innovators; The Nigeria ICT investment Forum; The Nigeria ICT investment Dinner and Five Days of Business Connexions.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, chairman of the LOC, had earlier noted that, it was important for all stakeholders to come together to drive Nigeria’s participation as the official country partner for Gitex 2014.
He said there was 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.