News
InnovateAI Lagos 2025: Addressing Nigeria’s Challenges with AI Innovations
AI in Nigeria today announced that InnovateAI Lagos 2025, the second edition of its flagship annual artificial intelligence (AI) conference, theme “Scaling AI Adoption in Nigeria: Catalysing Cross-Sectoral Innovation and Fostering Inclusive Growth” is scheduled for February 21, 2025.
InnovateAI Lagos 2025, scheduled to hold at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, will be promoting the theme that builds upon the success of the inaugural edition, according to AI in Nigeria, a collective of visionary leaders and tech enthusiasts dedicated to propelling Nigeriato the forefront of the global AI revolution.
Co-convener, Dotun Adeoye comments that: “InnovateAI Lagos 2024 was a stepping stone. For 2025, we are taking it further—examining how AI can drive inclusive growth, solve economic challenges, and catalyse innovation across Nigeria.”
According to him, “the inaugural InnovateAI conference in 2024 was a defining moment, bringing together over 4,000 attendees from across Nigeria and beyond. It ignited collaborations, inspired innovation, and influenced policies, businesses, and community initiatives that have driven measurable progress.”
As momentum builds up towards InnovateAI Lagos 2025, AI in Nigeria said that this year’s event is set to be even more impactful as attention will focus on promoting AI solutions to addressing pressing challenges including unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and financial inclusion to foster sustainable growth across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
According to Adeoye, InnovateAI Lagos 2025 is to attract over 6,000 attendees with a dynamic mix of live participation at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, and simultaneous livestreaming to 12 AI-in-Nigeria Community Hubs that have been inaugurated over the course of the last year across all six geopolitical zones in the country.
Ehia Erhaboh, co-convener, adds: “This is not just a conference; it is a movement. We are building on last year’s successes to deliver actionable outcomes that shape Nigeria’s future.”
Erhaboh said that the second edition of the flagship AI conference promises to delve into transformative AI innovations and their potential to solve Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
“The conference’s theme, ‘Scaling AI Adoption in Nigeria: Catalysing Cross-Sectoral Innovation and Fostering Inclusive Growth,’ seeks to position Nigeria as a global hub for AI by unlocking its vast potential in diverse sectors,” he said.
“The country’s unique combination of human capital, natural resources, and budding infrastructure presents an opportunity to lead in AI development and adoption.”
InnovateAI Lagos 2025: Key Thematic Track Spotlights AI and the Future of Work
As part of this year’s programme, InnovateAI Lagos 2025 will host a focused session on “AI and the Future of Work”, featuring a high-powered panel of leading HR directors from diverse industries.
This session will explore how AI is reshaping the skill sets and competencies required in the workplace, influencing recruitment trends, and redefining roles
across sectors.
Participating companies will host booths at the conference to further support this vision for capacity development, providing a unique opportunity for skilled professionals to engage directly with employers seeking AI talent.
This initiative bridges the gap between AI skill development and real-world applications, demonstrating Nigeria’s readiness to harness its human resources for global competitiveness.
InnovateAI Lagos 2025: Participants can anticipate:
● Dynamic Discussions: Gain actionable insights from industry leaders, tech innovators, and policymakers on how AI is transforming sectors and driving inclusive economic growth.
● Workshops & Skills Building: Join hands-on sessions tailored to equip participants with cutting-edge AI skills to address Nigeria’s unique challenges.
● AI and the Future of Work: Explore how AI shapes workplace demands and creates opportunities for Nigeria to become an AI talent powerhouse.
● Networking Opportunities: Forge meaningful connections with innovators, investors, and decision-makers shaping Nigeria’s AI landscape.
● Showcasing Innovation: Discover AI-powered solutions designed to tackle real-world problems in Nigeria, from agriculture and healthcare to education and finance.
InnovateAI Lagos 2025: Profiles of Speakers
The 2025 conference will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, each offering unique insights into Nigeria’s AI ecosystem.
This year’s discussions will focus on building the infrastructure needed for sustainable AI growth. Speakers will include leaders from companies making significant investments in data centres, as well as executives from a global social media platform, sharing strategies for scaling AI to drive digital transformation and community engagement.
Additionally, a representative from a Nigerian new-generation bank will explore how AI is revolutionising financial services and fostering financial inclusion. An agricultural technology innovator will showcase AI solutions to enhance food security, while a globally renowned AI researcher will provide in-depth insights into ethical AI and localised applications tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges.
The conference will also feature HR experts who will discuss the impact of AI on the future of work, focusing on reskilling the workforce and building AI-driven talent pipelines to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.
Policy experts will explore frameworks for ethical governance, while thought leaders will address how Nigeria can develop a competitive AI talent pool.
By bringing together experts on infrastructure, innovation, workforce development, and governance, the conference will position Nigeria as a leader in building a thriving AI ecosystem.
InnovateAI Lagos 2025: What is The Big Picture?
AI in Nigeria continues to drive impactful initiatives that position Nigeria as a leader in AI innovation. Since the inaugural conference, AI in Nigeria has focused on:
● Capacity Building: Training young Nigerians in AI, empowering them with skills to create impactful solutions.
● Showcasing AI Startups: Highlighting the work of 54 AI-driven startups across sectors such as agriculture, automation, content creation, financial services, fraud
detection, cybersecurity, healthcare, and logistics.
● Research: Publishing the AI Landscape in Nigeria Report (2024), an in-depth analysis spotlighting opportunities, challenges, and growth areas in Nigeria’s AI ecosystem.
● Private Sector Achievements: Collaborating with leading firms to implement practical AI solutions addressing critical needs in various industries
Why Attend InnovateAI Lagos 2025?
Whether you are a tech enthusiast, business leader, HR Manager, policy advocate, or simply curious about AI’s transformative power, InnovateAI Lagos 2025 is where you’ll find inspiration, collaboration, and solutions.
Attendance at InnovateAI Lagos 2025 is free, but registration is mandatory to secure your spot at this transformative event. Register today at events.aiinnigeria.com
The UK Government has announced the appointment of Mr Peter Vowles as the next British High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr Vowles succeeds Dr Richard Montgomery CMG and is expected to take up his post in Abuja in September 2026. Dr Montgomery remains in post until that time.
Mr Vowles brings extensive diplomatic and development experience to the role, having served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2023 to 2026 and previously as Ambassador to Myanmar from 2021 to 2022.
He has held senior leadership positions across the FCDO and its predecessor department DFID, including as Transformation Director and Director for Asia, Caribbean and Overseas Territories.
Earlier in his career, Mr Vowles worked in international development across South Asia, Central Africa and East Africa, including postings in Bangladesh, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya. He began his career in Zimbabwe, where he worked in education and development.
Peter Vowles said: “I am honoured to be appointed as British High Commissioner to Nigeria. Nigeria is a country of immense importance to the United Kingdom, and I look forward to working closely with Nigerian partners to strengthen our relationship across trade, development and security.”
World Bank has ranked the Apapa and Tin Can Island Port complexes in Lagos among the world’s 20 most improved ports in its 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), released in June 2026.
The ranking places both ports in the “Top 20 Port Improvement Since 2020” category, reflecting significant gains in operational efficiency and vessel turnaround time.
The CPPI is a global benchmark used to assess the efficiency of container ports based on factors such as cargo handling speed, ship turnaround time and overall logistics performance.
According to the report, the improvement highlights ongoing reforms and modernization efforts within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Abubakar Dantsoho, attributed the recognition to ongoing policy reforms and infrastructure upgrades in the sector.
He said the development reflects the impact of economic policies of President Bola Tinubu and the support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola.
“With the investor-friendly policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu providing the impetus for increased investment to drive our port infrastructure and equipment modernisation programme, coupled with the unflinching support of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, we have all it takes to further enhance trade facilitation, improve competitiveness and boost the national economy,” he said.
The NPA said the recognition is expected to strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector and enhance the country’s position as a regional trade and logistics hub.
It noted that improvements in port operations are already contributing to increased efficiency in cargo movement and reduced delays at key terminals.
The authority also pointed to ongoing efforts to modernise port infrastructure and expand digital systems aimed at improving service delivery.
Earlier in February 2026, the NPA said the federal government had intensified efforts to position Nigeria as a leading maritime destination through port rehabilitation and modernization projects.
It also highlighted public-private partnership initiatives, including developments at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, as part of broader reforms aimed at improving efficiency and attracting investment.
The CPPI ranking is expected to further boost Nigeria’s maritime profile and encourage additional investment in the sector.
As digital payment adoption continues to grow across Nigeria and emerging markets, the next phase will depend not just on innovation, but on the strength, reliability, and trustworthiness of the infrastructure behind it.
While the ecosystem has made clear progress in recent years, trust remains a critical issue for users, businesses, and operators alike. Questions around resilience, security, interoperability and transaction reliability continue to shape how the market evolves and how confidently digital payments can scale.
These issues will be central to the deliberations at Digital Pay Expo 2026, where fintech leaders, payment operators, and other ecosystem stakeholders will gather under the theme, “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the Era of AI.”
PalmPay’s participation reflects its continued commitment to building trusted and scalable payment infrastructure, while contributing to the broader industry efforts to strengthen systems, standards, and partnerships needed to support long-term ecosystem growth.
Speaking ahead of the event, Olorunfemi Hanson, Head of Marketing and Communications at PalmPay Nigeria, said: “As the financial services ecosystem continues to grow, trust and reliability become even more important.
“The industry’s next phase will be shaped not only by innovation, but by the strength of the infrastructure supporting it. Digital Pay Expo provides an important platform to address the resilience, interoperability, and trust issues that will shape the future of digital payments growth across Africa.”
The event, scheduled to be held from the 17th to the 18th of June, 2026, will feature Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, alongside other distinguished guests, including the Director-General, Payment System Management Department (PSMD), Central Bank of Nigeria. The event will examine how the industry can balance innovation, regulation, and scalability while strengthening trust across the digital payments value chain.
For PalmPay, this event reinforces its role in supporting a more resilient, secure and scalable payments ecosystem for Nigeria and emerging markets more broadly.
IMF Warns of New Risks for Monetary Policy over $59Bn Crypto Inflows into Nigeria
AI-Powered Loan Recovery Pilot Rakes in N69m for VeendHQ
MTN Foundation Commits N32Bn in Projects across Nigeria
NCC Begins Review Telecom Termination Rates after 8 Years
Stakeholders Endorse Hybrid Model for Nigeria’s Digital Switch
CBN Extends PoS Geo-Fencing Enforcement Deadline to August 2026
NCC Drafts New Rules for Virtual Mobile Operators
TD Africa, HPE Drive Conversations on the Future of Intelligent Networking
London Strengthens Global Investment Ties with Africa @ First Ever London-Africa Business Summit
Easybuy Partners WAWUAfrica to Upskill 10 Million Youths and Women, Boosting Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Inclusion
E-Business2 days agoAI-Powered Cyber Threats Put Nigerian Banks on Alert
E-Business3 days agoCSOs Raise Alarm over Nigeria’s Data Protection Crisis
General News3 days ago₦5m up for Grabs as 10 Startups Clash at the Gathering on 100 Pitchathon Aba
E-Financial3 days agoCBN to Expand eNaira for Salaries, Pensions and Welfare Payments
General News3 days agoCBN Moves to Stop Banks From Using Customers’ Money for Fintech Subsidiaries
Telecom3 days agoNITDA Reveals Why AI Could Be Nigeria’s Biggest Wealth Creator, Not Oil
E-Financial3 days agoCBN to Bar HoldCos from Influencing Banks’ Lending Decisions
Telecom3 days agoNASENI Unveils Ambitious Plan to Produce 600 Million Diagnostic Kits Annually