Ms Trixie LohMirmand, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Global, has called on Nigeria to seek global markets for its growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
LohMirmand gave the advice during the opening ceremony of GITEX Nigeria 2026 in Lagos on Wednesday.
She said the country should convert its AI ecosystem into globally competitive businesses capable of accessing international markets, capital and customers.
The CEO identified global market access as the next major test for Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, following significant progress in startups, AI, creativity, funding and digital infrastructure.
She also challenged Nigeria to move from consuming artificial intelligence developed elsewhere to creating technologies capable of generating global value.
“Consuming AI just makes for a market. When you start to create AI, it makes you a superpower.
“Talent needs access to markets, startups need customers, while innovation requires capital and investor confidence,” LohMirmand said.
She described GITEX as a bridge between Nigeria’s technology ecosystem and international markets, stressing that local ambition must translate into global business opportunities.
The CEO disclosed that registrations for the GITEX 2026 edition attracted participants from more than 90 countries, while over 200 investors with assets exceeding 200 billion dollars were expected.
She highlighted the growing international participation, including 23 companies from Moscow, nine Canadian companies and nine startups from Lebanon.
The GITEX chief maintained that such participation could expose international businesses and investors to Nigeria’s market, policies, talent and opportunities, while creating pathways for Nigerian companies to access global networks.
“GITEX is not an exhibition. It is an economic infrastructure that supports the technology ecosystem,” she said.
LohMirmand urged Nigerian startups to move beyond securing recognition and focus on building sustainable companies capable of scaling, exporting and competing internationally.
“It is not just celebrating the startups. This is only the first mile. Startup creation without sustainable growth would limit its economic impact,” she said.
LohMirmand said GITEX could compress the lengthy process of establishing international relationships by bringing investors, technology executives, companies and startups together on one platform.
She urged participants to turn the connections into investment, partnerships and market opportunities.
LohMirmand called for stronger collaboration among government, private sector players, investors and other stakeholders to convert Nigeria’s technology momentum into international competitiveness.
She said the value of GITEX should continue beyond the event through partnerships capable of influencing policymaking, education, startup development and opportunities for technology exports.
Also speaking, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), outlined government measures to prepare Nigerians for the emerging technology-driven economy.
Abdullahi identified human intelligence as Nigeria’s greatest resource and pointed to AI, Internet of Things, robotics, blockchain and other emerging technologies as tools for increasing productivity across critical sectors.
He also stressed the importance of trust and quality assurance, arguing that certification and software testing would improve confidence in Nigerian technology products and help startups secure corporate and government opportunities.
The NITDA boss disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved Project Bridge for the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure, alongside efforts to expand cloud and computing capacity.
He urged international technology companies to invest and build in Nigeria, and urged local innovators to develop solutions with the African and global markets in mind.
“Building in Nigeria does not mean you are limiting yourself to the Nigerian market, but positioning yourself for the African market,” Abdullahi said.
He urged Nigerian innovators to solve domestic challenges while designing their products for international scalability.
“Build to solve our immediate problems in Nigeria, but with the intention of scaling to Africa and to the world,” Abdullahi said.
GITEX is a global technology platform connecting startups, investors, technology companies, governments and other players across the digital ecosystem.
