Data localisation, AI development, fintech regulation and the cost of scaling are set to dominate discussions as technology and business leaders converge in Lagos for the inaugural GrowthX by Techeconomy conference.
The conference, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together stakeholders from the technology, financial services, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and fintech sectors to examine emerging issues shaping Nigeria’s digital economy.
With data localisation topping the agenda, the event is expected to provide a platform for industry leaders, regulators, investors and technology businesses to assess the implications of evolving data requirements for Nigeria’s digital payments and broader technology ecosystem.
The conference, themed “Driving Digital Growth Through Innovation and Collaboration,” will commence at 9:00am, featuring keynote presentations, a lead presentation, panel sessions, a fireside chat and an exhibition showcasing products, services and technology solutions.
Among the confirmed speakers are Blessing Ehize, Chief Technology Officer, First City Monument Bank (FCMB); Dr Ayotunde Coker, Chief Executive Officer, Open Access Data Centres (OADC); Dr Krishnan Ranganath, Chief Executive Officer, UniCloud Africa; Hakeem Adeniji-Adele, Deputy Managing Director, eTranzact International Plc; and Abraham Durosanwo, Vice President, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Others are Adeshina Adewumi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Trade Lenda; Roseline Ilori, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bridge57 Solutions Limited; Philip Aiwekhoe, Chief Information Security Officer, NPF Microfinance Bank; Rarzack Olaegbe, Producer of The Fintex Show on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM; and Elsie Godwin, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Cashwise Finance.
Also confirmed are Squadron Leader Adefola Amoo (Rtd), Founder, GridCodes, and Victor Daniyan, Chief Executive Officer, Nearpays Technologies.
The diverse representation is expected to enrich discussions around banking technology, data centres, cloud infrastructure, SME finance, data protection, cybersecurity, digital payments and financial technology, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The first panel, “Data Localisation, Identity & the Future of Secure Payments in Nigeria,” will focus on the implications of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent data localisation directive for the digital payments ecosystem.
Speakers will examine how businesses can respond to changing data requirements while maintaining secure and resilient payment systems without undermining innovation, competitiveness and global digital connectivity.
The second panel, “Building AI for Africa: Innovation, Infrastructure and Inclusive Growth,” will shift attention to the continent’s growing artificial intelligence ecosystem. It will explore how Africa can progress from being predominantly an AI consumer to developing homegrown AI solutions capable of addressing its distinctive economic and social challenges.
The third panel, “Fintech at a Crossroads? Innovation, Regulation and the Cost of Scaling in Nigeria,” will examine the pressures facing the country’s fast-growing fintech industry as businesses contend with increasing regulatory demands, rising operational costs and the need to achieve sustainable growth while continuing to innovate.
Peter Oluka, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Techeconomy, said the conference was designed to generate practical conversations capable of benefiting stakeholders across the digital economy.
“We want the conversations at GrowthX to be useful to the people building, regulating, funding and using digital services in Nigeria. The speakers bring different experiences to the table, and that is important because digital growth does not depend on one sector alone,” he said.
Attendance at GrowthX is free, although participants are required to pre-register.
The conference will culminate in the Technology Innovation and Leadership Awards (TiLAwards) Gala Night, scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.
The TiLAwards will recognise individuals and organisations making significant contributions to Nigeria’s technology and digital economy, with nominations still open here.
GrowthX by Techeconomy and the TiLAwards are organised by Techeconomy Business Series as part of activities marking the ninth anniversary of Techeconomy, a technology, business and economy news platform.
Participants can register for GrowthX through the official event registration platform, while nominations for the TiLAwards remain open through the awards platform.
