North-East Remains Rich With Creativity Despite Challenges — NITDA

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has stated that the youth of Nigeria’s North-East are rewriting the region’s story through creativity, code, and modern innovations despite the security challenges in the past and economic hardship.

Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stated this on Thursday at the GITEX Nigeria 2025 Startup Roadshow held at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, which had as the theme: “Innovation: Connecting Ecosystems, Showcasing Nigeria to the World.”

Abdullahi, represented by the agency’s North-East Zonal oordinator, 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 programmes 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.

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.

The Gombe event brought together startups, policymakers, tech enthusiasts, and investors from the six North-East states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe for a day of pitching, collaboration, and inspiration.

Welcoming participants to Gombe, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation in the state, Dr Ahmed Abdullahi Bappa 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,” he charged.

Some 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.