INTRO

Last week was all about VivaTech 2025, Europe’s largest technology gathering — and Nigeria made a bold, coordinated statement on the global stage. With over 180,000 attendees and 14,000 startups converging in Paris, our presence, powered by the largest African pavilion at the event, underscored our commitment to positioning Nigeria as a thriving hub for innovation, collaboration, and investment. 

From fintech to healthtech, 17 Nigerian startups showcased cutting-edge solutions to a global audience, while we engaged directly with international stakeholders to deepen tech diplomacy and forge new partnerships.

Brace up, as this edition of the Week in Review is a photo-heavy reflection of a truly impactful week, one that captured the energy, ambition, and collaborative spirit driving Nigeria’s digital economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. From strategic meetings and startup pitches to policy discussions and community engagements, our participation at VivaTech 2025 was both purposeful and inspiring.

TIMELINE

Day 1 – Arrival and Exhibition Opening

• The Honourable Minister travelled to Paris, France to attend VivaTech 2025, Europe’s largest technology and innovation gathering with 180,000 attendees and 14,000 startups from around the world. With the biggest African pavilion at the exhibition, his goal was to make a statement that Nigeria is fully open and ready for innovation, partnership, and investment.

Day 2 – Startup Showcases

• His first engagement on Day 2 of VivaTech was a brief chat with VivaTech Managing Director, François Bitouzet, to further discuss Nigeria’s participation at the 9th edition of the event. 
• Dr. Tijani then took a tour of tech solutions and products on display by Nigerian startups at the event. Solutions presented at the gathering cut across fintech, healthtech, edutech, and more. Some of the Nigerian startups that showcased their solutions at this edition of VivaTech include Acecore, Lifebank, Mydialecta, Techosphere, Zinox, Gyronics, Itana, Awarri, Vinsight, Pave, Mdoc, Helium Health, Wella Health, Termii, and others
  

• The next stop was the Africa Tech Stage where several Nigerian startups got an opportunity to pitch their tech solutions to investors. There was also a panel session offering a deep dive into the impact of the technology in the different thematic areas on display at the event from AI, healthtech, edtech, cleantech, and agritech.

Day 3 – Government Delegation and Ecosystem Engagement

• On Day 3, the Honourable Minister was joined at the VivaTech main exhibition hall by H.E Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor, Lagos State; Olatubosun Alake, Honourable Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology, Lagos State; and Engr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Science & Technology, Enugu State, as they engaged with members of the Nigerian delegation at VivaTech.
• He later had an interactive session with startup founders at the Nigeria Pavilion, where he highlighted the government’s efforts to leverage technology as we work to develop our nation into a $1 trillion economy.
• Later in the day, Dr. Tijani attended the Abuja to Paris Mixer organised to host members of the Nigerian delegation to VivaTech, and also provide an opportunity to network and collaborate towards further developing the nation’s tech ecosystem.

Day 4 – Reflections

• With a successful event showcasing the best that Nigeria has to offer in the tech and innovation space, the Honourable Minister left Paris with profound appreciation for sponsors and facilitators who made Nigeria’s participation remarkable — including Zinox, Moniepoint, Flutterwave, IHS Towers, Techosphere, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).