Nigeria’s push for a stronger digital economy gained momentum on Saturday as the Port Harcourt Tech Expo 2026 opened in Rivers State, bringing together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem to explore pathways for artificial intelligence, innovation, and collaborative digital growth.
In a statement released by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the agency said it participated in the expo, which brought together policymakers, innovators, startups, investors, academics, and industry leaders to advance Nigeria’s digital economy.
Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director, Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, delivered the opening keynote address on behalf of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the agency.
He spoke on the theme “Syntropy: Collective Futures – Systems, Solutions, Synergy and Societies,” stressing the importance of collaboration among government, the private sector, academia, and innovators in building a sustainable digital ecosystem.
Dr. Onumo said such collaboration is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s innovation potential and positioning the Niger Delta as a viable hub for technology, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship.
He added that artificial intelligence, digital skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation remain central to Nigeria’s economic transformation, noting that stronger partnerships are needed to convert ideas into scalable solutions.
He also called for stronger ecosystems that support young innovators and startups, particularly in regions such as the Niger Delta, which he described as having strong potential for technology-driven growth.
The expo featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, exhibitions, and networking sessions aimed at deepening collaboration across the technology sector and accelerating innovation-led development.
Participants also engaged on key themes including artificial intelligence, startup financing, digital skills development, innovation policy, and technology adoption.
The event ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening partnerships that will drive technology-led economic growth and position Nigeria as a stronger player in the global digital economy.
