The second edition of the Global Tech Africa (GTA) 2024 Conference was held on July 24-26 in Lagos, Nigeria, attracting over 6,000 participants and featuring more than 100 expert speakers across 85 sessions. This event aimed to explore the potential and opportunities in Africa's tech industry and accelerate the transformation of the digital economy on the continent. The conference was structured into three stages: Epicentre Stage for government representatives and corporations, Startup Stage for thought leaders and tech founders, and Outsource Factory Stage for training workshops and career connections. Keynote speakers included Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of NITDA, Ralph Simon, founder of Mobilium, Kenise Hill, acting Political and Economic Chief at the U.S. Consulate General Lagos, and Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment. Panel sessions covered various topics such as women empowerment, AI, fintech, agriculture, edutech, health tech, and cybersecurity. Industry leaders and experts from Venture Garden Group, SEC Nigeria, NITDA, MoFI, Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Group, Deloitte, Career Buddy, Helium Health, Semicolon, Alajo, NITDA, Simplify Synergy, Sh'Emerge, Nextwear Technologies, Yudimy, American Business Council, Lagos Business School, PwC, and National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics participated in the sessions.
In a related development, the ministry of communications, innovation, and digital economy of Nigeria is partnering with the US Department of State to host the 'Global Inclusivity and Artificial Intelligence: Africa' conference on September 10-11, 2024, in Lagos. Approximately 300 stakeholders, including US government officials, private sector executives, tech policy leaders, academics, and civil society members, are expected to attend. This conference aims to explore AI opportunities and challenges, featuring plenary sessions, panel discussions, site visits, break-out sessions, and networking opportunities. It seeks to align tech governance strategies and ensure that AI advancements safeguard the public while benefiting everyone. This event marks a significant milestone in U.S.-Nigeria relations following Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Nigeria in January 2024. [41f788d5][90558f21]
