Two Nigerian technology start-ups, Paddy Cover and Pricepally have won the Dubai world trade center’s $200,000 Lagos talent show. The two start-ups, Paddy Cover, Co-Founded by Mayowa Owolabi and Tobi Obasa, and Food sourcing and distribution tech firm, Pricepally founded by Luther Lawoyin beat 24 other contestants to emerge victorious among those who pitched their ideas before six judges.
Their win will see them go on an all-expense-paid trip to Dubai to pitch their idea to over 400 investors and thousands of technology ecosystem players at the GITEX 2022 exhibition for a chance to win $200,000. They will all meet at the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, in October for the five-day business show, mentorship, and networking with world technology business leaders.
The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), is an annual consumer computer and electronics trade show exhibition and conference that takes place in Dubai at the Dubai world trade center. According to information, GITEX is renowned for being one of the world’s most influential meeting places for the tech industry which brings together innovators, founders, creators, and the likes.
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A lot of start-ups are often faced with the challenge of funding, but it is a great thing that we now have companies that are ready to fund such start-ups provided that they meet up with the criteria. The two start-ups that won the Lagos talent show in partnership with GITEX, will see them being marketed early and connected to various investors across the globe so that they can get the necessary visibility.
It is indeed an ecstatic feeling that start-ups in Nigeria are beginning to get the exposure and platforms to pitch their ideas and get the necessary funding. Kudos to the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for entering a partnership with GITEX to be able to harness great talents in innovative talents within the country.
What is more interesting about all of these is that Dubai and GITEX are keen to be part of the start-up ecosystem in Lagos Nigeria. This initiative is for them to explore more opportunities so that the winners of the talent show will be participating in the North star program which holds in Dubai, with the hope of getting more investors and access to the UAE market.
The director-general of the Nigeria Information Technology development agency (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi pledged not to relent in providing assistance and support to young Nigerian citizens with start-ups, to catalyze the entire tech ecosystem in the country, toward building a digital economy.
According to the director of the Dubai world trade center, Mr. Zarko Ackovih, he disclosed that the organizers recognize Nigeria as having the largest ecosystem in the whole of Africa, but he noticed that they do not see too much of African and Nigerian start-ups come up for expansion which was why they decided to come to the region to offer the opportunity for the start-ups.
Indeed the partnership of the NITDA and GITEX will provide opportunities for start-ups in the country to access both local and foreign markets. There will also be massive growth in the ecosystem in the country which will accelerate Lagos State as a tech hub, and give them more recognition globally because of the partnership with the UAE.
