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Nigerian entrepreneurs are the architects of the digital future says Lagos State Deputy Governor as GITEX NIGERIA champions national & regional startup ecosystems

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GITEX NIGERIA

The GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival showcased the strength and depth of an ecosystem through which talent development pathways and digital infrastructure projects are accelerating Nigeria’s US$1 trillion economy ambition

LAGOS, Nigeria, September 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

  • GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival cast a unique global spotlight on the profound influence of emerging entrepreneurs across Nigeria & Africa
  • Supernova Challenge finals also headlined the third & final day of GITEX NIGERIA 2025 – Curacel claimed $10,000 first prize

The inaugural GITEX NIGERIA (www.GITEXNIGERIA.ng) concluded in a tremendous fashion this Thursday in Lagos, as West Africa’s largest tech, AI, and startup show cast a spotlight on the influence of emerging local and regional entrepreneurs.

Held under the patronage of H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GITEX NIGERIA took place across Abuja and Lagos from 1-4 September. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the event was endorsed by Lagos State Government and organised by KAOUN International, global producer of GITEX events.

Taking place in Nigeria’s commercial and innovation capital, the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival showcased the strength and depth of an ecosystem through which talent development pathways and digital infrastructure projects are accelerating Nigeria’s US$1 trillion economy ambition.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, H.E. Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, hailed its immediate impact at the national level, declaring: “GITEX NIGERIA sends an inspirational message to every Nigerian: that many positive things are transpiring across our country and opportunities are here. For every attendee at the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival, this has been immediately apparent. We see many young citizens and entrepreneurs, with enormous innovative minds, making a real difference – generating interest, raising capital, and overcoming challenges by bringing their ideas to life and delivering tangible impact. Such outcomes are crucial because they show that, as the world evolves, so too does Nigeria – as a nation of leaders, innovators, and architects of digital future we envisage.”

Central to Nigeria – and Africa’s – digital sovereignty is upskilling and expanding grassroots talent and organisations. As the largest regional showcase of its kind and a convergence point for local and international stakeholders embracing digital transformation, the GITEX NIGERIA Startup Festival was perfectly timed to support this mandate.

Over 650 startups from 27+ countries and 29 different industries participated with a shared vision of co-creating tech architecture across multiple sectors undergoing continent-wide digitisation. Its strategic programme included Nigeria’s most globally diverse investor programme, innovation hub showcases, and curated meetings between startups, investors, corporates, governments, industry leaders, and prospective partners.

Let us accelerate the development of the digital economy not only for Nigeria, but for Africa and the world

Speaking after the recent announcement of funding 75 new research projects for startups, researchers, corporates and Nigerian diaspora for digital innovation, the Hon. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria said: “The opportunity and responsibility lies with all of us to build a resilient, innovative, and globally connected ecosystem, one that ensures that Nigeria not only keeps pace with the digital future but also shapes it. To all enterprises, corporates, startups, academia, and partners, we offer a transparent and accelerated path to collaboration, investment, and cooperation with Nigeria. Let us accelerate the development of the digital economy not only for Nigeria, but for Africa and the world.”

Supporting the multi-sector disruption ranging from education and agriculture through manufacturing and energy, startup participation was bolstered by hundreds of organisations brought by local engagement and international innovation hub partnerships.

Within Nigeria, NITDA, Lagos State, FATE Foundation, Co-creation Hub Africa (CcHUB), and Orange Corners were among the partners, while internationally, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), American Business Council (ABC) contributed.

Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO, NITDA, said: “Across Africa and around the globe, future-oriented partnerships are the lifeblood of thriving startup ecosystems and digital economies. By uniting ambitious organisations from instrumental sectors in the emerging digital economy, we demonstrate how collaboration fuels innovation, accelerates transformation, and empowers Nigerians and Africans to shape their digital future.”

Universally recognised as the world’s leading pitch competition for early-stage companies and emerging entrepreneurs, the Supernova Challenge made its regional debut at West Africa’s largest tech, AI, and startup show – culminating in action-packed Thursday final.

Across two days in Nigeria’s innovation capital, the continent’s brightest and boldest disruptors joined Nigeria’s most visionary startups in competing for a US$22,000 total prize pool across six categories – showcasing game-changing solutions transforming agritech, cybersecurity, edtech, e-commerce, healthtech, telecom, and more.

Following the semi-finals 24 hours prior, the remaining contestants battled it out for valuable cash prizes and unprecedented visibility as regional and international investors watched on.

Abdul-Jabbar Momoh, VP, from Nigerian startup Curacel – revolutionising health insurance with AI-driven solutions – emerged as the most outstanding finalist among the expert judging panel, and was awarded the US$10,000 first prize for its AI-driven health insurance solution.

Reflecting on the at GITEX NIGERIA, Momoh said: “Placing first at the GITEX NIGERIA Supernova Challenge gives us more visibility and fuel our expansion across Europe, Middle East and Africa, as well as North America. Most importantly we are going to keep on impacting lives in Africa and around the world by deploying solutions to move health insurance distribution.”

The winners across each Supernova Challenge category were as follows:

  • Overall Supernova Champion (US$10,000): Curacel
  • AI category (US$2,000): Build Africa
  • Digital Finance category (US$2,000): InCash
  • Creative Economy & Martech (US$2,000): Hadiya
  • Agritech & Energy (US$2,000): Acecore
  • Mobility & Smart Cities (US$2,000): Kara
  • Disruptor Award (US$2,000): HiPrep

For more information, news and updates on GITEX NIGERIA, please visit www.GITEXNIGERIA.ng

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX NIGERIA.

Business

5 Investment Opportunities Putting Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2027 on the Map for Central Africa

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CEIF 2027 connects investors with Congo’s energy projects and local partners, while providing entry points for commercial opportunities across Central Africa

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, November 2, 2026/APO Group/ –The Republic of Congo’s expanding oil and gas developments are creating new opportunities for investment, engineering contracts and commercial partnerships across the energy value chain. With offshore discoveries, mature-field redevelopment and three million tons per year of LNG capacity, the country is entering a new phase of energy development that requires capital, technology and international partnerships.

 




 
 

The Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2027, taking place June 1-3 in Brazzaville, will serve as the official platform connecting Central African energy decision-makers, operators, investors and service companies. Organized by Energy Capital & Power in collaboration with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the forum will bring together public- and private-sector stakeholders to advance investment discussions, facilitate partnerships and connect companies with emerging opportunities across the region.

Connect With Central Africa’s Energy Decision-Makers

CEIF 2027 will provide a platform to engage directly with Congolese authorities, regulators, national energy companies and policymakers shaping the region’s energy investment landscape. Taking place in partnership with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, the event offers a bridge between the country’s policymakers and public- and private-sector companies. Conversations with decision-makers can help investors understand national development priorities, gain insight into the regulatory environment and identify opportunities for market entry or expansion.

Capitalize on Congo’s Upstream Investment and Production Ambitions

As Congo targets production growth toward 500,000 barrels per day, operators are pursuing new exploration and mature-field redevelopment to increase output. TotalEnergies’ 2026 Moho G discovery could unlock an estimated 100 million barrels of recoverable resources alongside the existing Moho F development, illustrating the potential to connect new discoveries to established offshore infrastructure. Meanwhile, Perenco and Trident Energy are pursuing development and redevelopment opportunities across mature assets, including well reactivation and infrastructure upgrades.

These activities could create opportunities for drilling contractors, engineering firms and production technology providers. CEIF 2027 offers a platform to explore project requirements and investment opportunities across Congo’s upstream sector.

Unlock Opportunities Across LNG, Gas and Power Infrastructure

With LNG exports established and liquefaction capacity reaching three million tons per year in 2026, Congo is looking towards its next phase of gas development. This will depend on sustaining feedgas supplies, connecting additional resources and expanding infrastructure.

Beyond LNG, Congo’s plans to expand electricity generation and improve transmission and distribution infrastructure present opportunities for power developers, equipment suppliers and investors. These priorities create potential opportunities for upstream operators, engineering companies, technology providers and investors interested in gas processing, power generation and distribution. CEIF provides a platform to advance these priorities.

Showcase Solutions and Build Commercial Partnerships at the Exhibition

The CEIF 2027 exhibition will provide a platform for companies to showcase their technologies, equipment and services directly to energy operators, policymakers, investors and potential clients across Central Africa.

Exhibitors will have opportunities to demonstrate solutions, engage with local service providers and identify potential partnerships across drilling, engineering, infrastructure and energy technology. For companies seeking to enter or expand in the region, the exhibition offers a direct route to building commercial relationships, exploring procurement opportunities and positioning their services for upcoming projects.

Access New Projects and Financing Opportunities

Turning project opportunities into investments requires clarity on development priorities, infrastructure requirements and financing structures. CEIF’s discussions will give participants an opportunity to assess the projects shaping Congo’s energy sector and engage with potential commercial and institutional counterparts.

Investors, lenders and project developers can use these exchanges to identify areas where financing, technical expertise or new investment structures may help advance projects across oil and gas, power generation and downstream industries.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power in collaboration with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, CEIF 2027 will enable candid dialogue, facilitating new investments and deals in the country’s energy sector. For more information, visit www.congoenergyinvestment.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

 




 

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Afreximbank supports Veenocks’ US$145 million project for industrial expansion and regional growth

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Afreximbank

PPF-funded studies enabled Veenocks to broaden its medium-term regional growth plans, while a US$81.9 million senior loan supports an expansion expected to triple annual production capacity

CAIRO, Egypt, November 2, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has supported the development and expansion of Veenocks Limited’s porcelain tile manufacturing plant in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, through its Project Preparation Facility (PPF) and a US$81.9 million senior term loan. The project has a total estimated cost of US$145 million.
 




 

Afreximbank and Veenocks signed a US$2 million project preparation facility agreement in August 2024 to finance technical, commercial, financial, legal, environmental and social studies needed to establish the project’s bankability.

The studies financed through the PPF, complemented by Afreximbank’s pan-African experience, enabled Veenocks to broaden its growth ambitions beyond its primary focus on the Nigerian market. This support informed the company’s plans to pursue regional opportunities over the medium term, with target markets including Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cameroon, Ghana, Mauritania and Senegal.

The Bank’s US$81.9 million senior term loan supports implementation of the plant’s expansion, providing financing for investment in additional manufacturing capacity. The expansion is expected to increase the plant’s total annual production capacity from 3.3 million to 9.9 million square metres, creating a stronger production base to meet domestic demand and pursue regional opportunities.

Veenocks demonstrates how project preparation, commercial expertise and senior debt financing can support African industrial investment

The existing plant employs more than 200 people directly. The expansion is expected to create an additional 300 direct jobs, alongside indirect employment across raw material supply, logistics and distribution.

The preparation financing has been fully repaid from senior debt, completing the PPF’s funding cycle for Veenocks and replenishing capital to support further projects.

Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said:

“Veenocks demonstrates how project preparation, commercial expertise and senior debt financing can support African industrial investment. The studies financed through Afreximbank’s Project Preparation Facility have helped strengthen the project’s bankability and broaden the company’s regional growth ambitions. Our senior debt financing supports the plant expansion needed to convert those ambitions into increased productive capacity, and stronger foundations for intra-African trade.”

Mrs. Awani added: “Full repayment of the preparation financing ensures capital is available to support more indigenous African investors and projects. This is the PPF’s revolving model in practice: the funds that have been repaid are used to support initiatives that add value to local resources and expand manufacturing.”

Mr. Adebisi Abidemi Adebutu, Group President of R28 Holdings, the parent company of Veenocks Limited, said:

“This investment represents an important step towards our ambition of building a globally competitive manufacturing business in Nigeria, producing world-class tiles to European quality standards and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported tiles. The PPF was instrumental in broadening our growth plans and positioning us to penetrate regional markets over the medium term. With Afreximbank’s financing, we can now deliver the expansion phase of this project. The facility will allow us to add value to Nigeria’s raw materials, create quality jobs and increase the supply of our porcelain tiles, manufactured here in Nigeria, to customers at home and across the region. Our vision is to set the global benchmark for quality in tile manufacturing and to become Africa’s first choice for porcelain tiles.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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Energy

Energy costs, storage value and industrial competitiveness led Day 2 of C&I Energy + Storage Summit

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Energy

Energy security, industrial competitiveness and infrastructure readiness emerged as closely connected priorities, with discussions highlighting what businesses need to turn investment plans into operational gains

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 2, 2026/APO Group/ –How can South African businesses turn energy investment into lower operating costs, stronger resilience and long-term competitiveness? This question drove the second day of VUKA Group’s (https://WeAreVUKA.com/) C&I Energy + Storage Summit in Johannesburg, with discussions examining the commercial value of storage, industrial energy strategies and the infrastructure needed to support Africa’s growing digital economy.

 




  

The programme brought together business leaders, energy specialists, financiers and public-sector representatives to address practical decisions facing commercial and industrial users, alongside the EIUG Conference, Water Security Africa and Data Centre Summit.

Energy security, industrial competitiveness and infrastructure readiness emerged as closely connected priorities, with discussions highlighting what businesses need to turn investment plans into operational gains.

Energy storage featured prominently, with panellists examining how tariff optimisation, peak shaving and renewable energy integration can strengthen its value beyond backup power. The investment case, however, needs to account for battery degradation, warranties and operational risk.

Addressing the attendees, Junaid Munshi, Group Executive: Distribution for Eskom told the audience: “For an industrial business, solar and storage can improve the energy cost position. But the opportunity extends beyond the customer’s electricity bill. Where network capacity is constrained, coordinated battery use may relieve pressure on the infrastructure serving that business and, where proven technically dependable, could defer or reduce grid investment. The asset behind your meter can therefore also become a resource beyond it.”

The asset behind your meter can therefore also become a resource beyond it

The EIUG session “Industrialisation under threat?” put changing electricity consumption under scrutiny, asking whether lower demand reflected efficiency gains or weakening industrial output. Tariffs, investment conditions and industrial growth remained central to the discussion, highlighting the need to assess energy trends against the health of the wider economy.

At the Data Centre Summit, Africa’s AI ambitions brought power availability and infrastructure readiness into focus. Discussions on grid access, wheeling and network investment highlighted the importance of planning digital growth alongside the electricity infrastructure needed to sustain it.

For businesses developing energy projects, public-private engagement sessions explored infrastructure co-investment, municipal coordination and workable wheeling agreements.

Water Security Africa reinforced the wider resource-security challenge through industrial resilience case studies, digital water technologies and lessons from case studies.

Across the discussions, the practical message was consistent: competitive businesses need more than access to technology and capital. They also need reliable infrastructure, workable commercial arrangements and coordinated delivery.

The afternoon programme translated these themes into business decisions. “The C&I energy playbook” drew together insights from across the summit, while the closing “decision clinic” addressed real project challenges, from choosing between onsite solar and wheeled power to sizing batteries and preparing projects for financing. Experts from DBSA, Standard Bank, SustainableDNA and the City of Tshwane contributed practical guidance.

Download the programme to review the full Day 2 agenda and participating speakers: https://apo-opa.co/4eEKq9a

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

 




 

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