Nine Nigerian technology innovators and start-ups had qualified for the semi-finals of the Supernova Challenge Pitch competition at the on-going , Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), taking place in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai.
Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Media and External Relations of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Supernova Challenge is the biggest pitch competition in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, where startups have the opportunity to become the next unicorn, with up to $200,000 in cash prizes and is organised by North Star Dubai.
The startups included Identity Pass, 9JaCodeKids Academy, Floews, Medtech, Paddycover, Pricepally, LiveBic, Tachyon Technologies, and Wellness Health Technologies.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, while inaugurating the Nigerian pavilion, commended the startups that have so far scaled the competition’s preliminary stages.
Pantami expressed confidence in the ability of the team to progress to the finals and hopefully clinch the ultimate prize.
He said: “Each and every year, Nigeria has been attending GITEX because of its enormous benefits and these benefits are many, critical among them is attracting foreign direct investment.
“We have recorded significant milestones and great accomplishments in our bid to drive Nigeria’s economy digitally and our modest successes are verifiable.”
The minister further said that the Federal Government, in the last three years launched several programmes, policies and initiatives that were entrenching the trust between the tech. ecosystem and the government towards strengthening the Nigerian digital economy sector.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, was optimistic that the Nigerian team would ace the competition and further consolidate placing the country on the global map.
Inuwa urged, ”the tech. innovators should ensure they also learn, unlearn and relearn by participating in other sideline events and conferences in order to build the necessary networks to add value to their craft.”
GITEX Global 2022 is a meeting point for technology professionals and enthusiasts.
The event is a thrust for the Global Startup Movement attracting world’s biggest technology mentors, angel investors and venture capitalists.
Nigerian startups are showcasing their innovative ideas to the world, interacting with other startups from different parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.
They are luring investors to come to Nigeria and invest money in the country’s fast growing digital economy.
NITDA has been coordinating Nigeria’s pavilion at the event since 2013