The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has shortlisted 10 technology startups for the 2017 GITEX Technology Expo and Conference to be held in Dubai from October 8-12 this year.
A source from the agency revealed that the 10 tech-ambassadors were carefully selected after a highly competitive process anchored the Office for ICT Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OIIE) which is an arm of the NITDA.
Successful startups include Nicademia, SIX, Tattara, Accounteer, Beat Drone, Cloudoria, Dropque, MyPadi, Ward Monitor and MTK e-Learning. They are expected to join their peers from over 60 countries at the second edition of the Gitex Startups Global Movement which was launched last year at Gitex.
GITEX has been designed to be a global rallying ground for funding startups and exposing innovators to mentors and venture capitalists.
Besides, it is the premier yearly technology event in the Middle East, Asia and Africa hosting over 185, 000 visitors from more than 140 countries. This year’s edition holds October 8-12 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with the theme: ‘Re- Imagining Realities -Discover Transform Innovate.’
NITDA revealed further that Nigeria is promoting three thematic activities for its participation this year on IT investment and exposure of indigenous. The activities are the Nigerian Pavilion, the Startup Innovation Hub, and the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) being put together jointly by the Nigerian government through the NITDA and the UAE government through the DWTC, organisers of GITEX.
Director General of the agency, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said NITDA’s remains committed to its mandate to build a technology ecosystem that thrives on indigenous manpower connected to the global IT community.
According to him, “Our young people are highly talented. With more training, exposure, funding and mentorship, a thriving IT industry can be encouraged to grow within international standards so that we can not only meet our local needs but also become an IT exporting nation”.
