Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) has been confirmed to deliver the keynote at this year’s Nigeria Innovation Summit dubbed the Nigeria Innovation Week 2020.
This year’s Nigeria Innovation Summit themed ‘Innovating in Critical Times,’ will be held virtually from Tuesday, October 6, 2020, to Thursday, October 8, 2020, following the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Pantami was the Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria from 26 September 2016 – 20 August 2019 when he was nominated as a minister and sworn into office on the 21st of August, 2019.
Under his leadership as the first Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and National Broadband Plan were developed and many unprecedented successes recorded.
In less than a year as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, the lingering issue of excessive Right of Way charges and vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure has been effectively addressed.
Under his stewardship, broadband penetration increased by about 10% in a year and ICT contributed an unprecedented 17.83% to the GDP based on the Q2 2020 GDP Report by National Bureau of Statistics.
Pantami is also a fellow of both British Computer Society (FBCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS).
Meanwhile, other influential speakers confirmed for the week-long event as released by the organisers include; Profesor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Andrew Bourne, Regional Managing Director, Zoho Corporation; Eduardo Bailetti, co-founder & CEO, ScaleCamp, Ottawa, Canada; and Fatumata Coker, Founder/Group President, YGroup Holdings Inc.
Others are Dr Yele Okeremi, CEO, Precise Financial Systems Ltd; Nicolas Bry, Innovation Booster, Orange Africa; Dr Navneet Bhalla, Founder & CEO, CETAN AI Inc; Peter Appleton, PhD., Visiting Professor, International Business, Norwich University, Vermont, US; Ibrahim Maigari Ahmadu, co-founder, LiveStock247; Ify Malo, CEO, CLEAN Foundation Hub; and Prof. Tony Baileti, Chairman of the Board, Nigeria-Canada Trade and Investment Group and Professor at Carleton University, Canada.
The Nigeria Innovation Week, a week-long event that brings together stakeholders from different sectors of Nigeria’s economy, is packed with several activities like innovation exhibitions, Nigeria Innovation Summit, Nigeria Innovation Awards, and the yearly report of the State of Innovation in Nigeria.
At the event, ideas, trends, opportunities around technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria are discussed.
The Lead Convener and the Founder of InnovationHub Africa & Resources Limited, Kenneth Omeruo, said that innovation in the 21st century is putting nations ahead of others.
“Participation in this week-long event is opened to local and international businesses, organisations, government agencies, start-ups, entrepreneurs, research centres, tertiary institutions, and all the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem”, Omeruo said.
Omeruo added that the event will also showcase innovative businesses, ideas, products and services from Nigeria.
“The state of innovation in Nigeria is also reviewed to understand its position and how it can be improved,” he said.
The Programmes Director, Tony Ajah, said the summit receives delegates from local and international businesses, organisations, government agencies, states and representatives, embassies and high commissions, investors, CEOs, start-ups, entrepreneurs, research centres, tertiary institutions, business leaders/decision-makers, and all the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem.
“This year has been tough for businesses but companies that are innovative see opportunities in most crisis.
“Nigeria Innovation Week 2020 will feature innovation showcases and exhibitions, keynote presentations on emerging technologies and their industry application, panel discussions, innovation management Insights as well as workshops, networking and awards,” he said.
According to him, “Tuesday, October 6, 2020, there will innovation showcase and exhibitions from innovation hubs, and research centres with solutions for industrial applications, adoption and commercialisation.
“We have also planned that on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, there will be innovation showcase and exhibitions from tertiary institutions from the 36 States of the federation, government agencies, and international organisations.
“The Nigeria Innovation Summit and the Nigeria Innovation Awards will hold on Thursday, October 8, 2020.”
On why corporate organisations and individuals should participate, Ajah said: “The event benefits each participating key player in the innovation ecosystem from government institutions, states and agencies to businesses and organisations, academic and research centres as well as start-ups and young entrepreneurs.”
Intending participants are to register via https://innovationsummit.ng/registration/
