The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has stated that the youth of Nigeria’s North-East comprising Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe states are rewriting the region’s story through creativity, code, and modern innovations despite the security challenges in the past and economic hardship.
That was the central message delivered by the agency at the GITEX Nigeria 2025 Startup Roadshow, held on Thursday at the International Conference Centre in Gombe, with the theme “Innovation: Connecting Ecosystems, Showcasing Nigeria to the World.”
Speaking at the event, the NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by the Agency’s Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Ahmed Mohammed, lauded the resilience and talent of young innovators across the region.
“The North-East, despite the challenges it has faced, remains rich with creativity and resilience. This roadshow is more than a routine event. It is a strategic platform for engagement, empowerment, and exposure.
“Through programs like this, we are committed to nurturing digital entrepreneurship, providing access to resources, and building a robust innovation ecosystem that supports job creation, digital inclusion, and sustainable development,” he said.
According to Mohammed, NITDA focuses on harnessing local talent, nurturing ideas, and providing opportunities for early-stage tech start-ups to grow and scale, noting that the agency will extend the search for the talents to every corner of the country.
“To all participating startups, today you are already winners. You represent the resilience, creativity, and ingenuity of the Nigerian youth. Whether you qualify for the final event or not, your courage to step forward and pitch your ur solution is commendable. We urge you to keep building, innovating, and solving real-world problems.”
The GITEX Nigeria Startup Roadshow, currently touring all six geopolitical zones of the country from July 15 to 30, is part of a national startup mobilisation initiative spearheaded by NITDA to discover, support, and scale the most promising tech startups from across Nigeria.
Gombe Hosts Innovators from Northeast
The Gombe event brought together startups, policymakers, tech enthusiasts, and investors from the six North-East states for a day of pitching, collaboration, and inspiration.
Welcoming participants to Gombe, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ahmed Abdullahi Bappa, in his address, emphasised the importance of the event.
“I am confident that GITEX Nigeria 2025 will be a resounding success, inspiring a new wave of innovation and technological advancement in our state and nation. Let us seize this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of technology in Nigeria and beyond.
Several of the showcased startups reflected solutions to real challenges faced by communities, ranging from digital healthcare and educational access to agricultural innovation and security tech.
The NITDA Coordinator, Ahmed Mohammed, commended all participants, noting that their courage in developing and pitching solutions already makes them winners in the national innovation journey.
He added that the Agency is working to create a digital ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs, builds local capacity, and drives inclusive development across all regions.
