DDiAdmiNIn a significant stride towards fostering technological growth and collaboration, DDI was honoured to participate in the Global Tech Africa (GTA) conference held from November 16th to November 19th, 2023, at the Lekki Coliseum in Lagos, Nigeria. The conference, an initiative of the Future Map Foundation and Ascend Studios Foundation in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the U.S. Consulate, aimed to unite African and international stakeholders in Technology, unlocking growth opportunities and building the tech ecosystem in Africa.
DDI’s Involvement and Presentation
DDI’s role in the conference involved delivering a compelling 15-minute presentation on December 18, 2023, shedding light on the impactful work of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) in Nigeria. The presentation articulated DDI’s mission, philosophy, and areas of focus, subsequently emphasizing the longstanding partnership between DDI and USADF since 2002. Key achievements of USADF in Nigeria were spotlighted, revealing over 480 projects executed, positively impacting the lives of millions of individuals, empowering local businesses, providing sustainable energy, and investing in the development of women and youth.
While focusing on Tech-related projects, DDI’s presentation also showcased success stories from various projects, spanning the Energy-Tech Nexus, Health-Tech Nexus, Agric-Tech Nexus, and Literary-Tech initiatives. Notably, a success story highlighted how Reedi Technology, a Nigerian startup, harnessed energy generation and distribution technology to provide energy for over 1500 individuals in energy-poor communities. These success stories illustrated how Nigerivan startups, with support from the American People, leveraged technology to address diverse challenges faced by Nigerians.
The presentation underscored the alignment between the DDI-USADF collaboration and GTA’s goals to create opportunities for growth and foster a robust technology ecosystem in Nigeria. Stakeholders were encouraged to collaborate with DDI, shaping Africa’s tech future by scaling success stories and creating avenues for tech-driven development.
Keynote Address by U.S. Consul General Will Stevens:
The Global Tech Africa conference featured distinguished speakers, including the U.S. Consul General Will Stevens, who delivered a keynote address emphasizing the crucial role of technology in defining the relationship between the United States and Nigeria. Stevens introduced the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, a Biden-Harris administration’s endeavour launched in December 2022 at the U.S.-Africa business forum.
Stevens highlighted the U.S. government’s commitment to investing $350 million into digital programming under the DTA initiative, with plans for additional investments in the future. Stevens concluded his address by reiterating the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria and Africa on their journey to prosperity.
The GTA conference, marked by insightful presentations and discussions, served as a platform for envisioning a technologically advanced and collaborative future for Africa.
As DDI continues its impactful work in partnership with USADF, the conference’s outcomes echo a promising trajectory for technology-driven development across the continent.