The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is an annual consumer computer and electronics trade show and conference that takes place in Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre. It brings together thought leaders, inventors, innovators, and other key players in the technology sector, making it one of the most significant gathering spots on the globe. 

Over 10,000 investors from across the world attended the GITEX Global 2022 event, which also provided entrepreneurs with over 25,000 leads for investment meetings and partnership opportunities.

In previous years, participants would have had to travel to Dubai to compete in the tournament for a chance to win $200,000 in funding and a mentorship prize. But on the 12th of May 2022, the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), in partnership with the Lagos State Government (LSG) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), organized the pitch event in Lagos at the Eko Innovation Centre.

The judges at the pitch event were; Akeem Hassan, Technical Assistant to Lagos State State Governor on Innovation and Technology; Tunbosun Alake, the special adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology; Segun Cole, Co-founder of Fund the Gap Alliance; Amos Udok, Representative NITDA; Ireayo Oladunjoye, Head, of Startups Lagos state employment Trust fund; Oguntade Adeseye, Unit head, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship ONDI, and Olorunnisomo Olaoluwa Co-Founder, Seedbuilders Innovation and Foundation, which had about twenty-seven (27) startups pitch their ideas.

Two Nigerian technology start-ups, Paddy Cover and Pricepally.com emerged winners and received from Dubai World Trade Centre an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai to compete in the tournament for a chance to win $200,000 in funding and a mentorship reward.

The two winners, Paddy Cover and PricePally, will be joined by thirteen (13) additional teams for a complete, all-expenses-paid opportunity to compete in GITEX, making the total delegation from Lagos State fifteen (15) startups, the largest in the history of the Lagos State Government.

The list of the thirteen (13) additional startups includes truQ, Quadloop, and Imperial EdTech, which are the second, third, and fourth-place finishers in the GITEX Lagos State pitch session; Wellness Health Technologies, D’Aggregate, and LiveBic, which are currently enrolled in the EIC acceleration program; AppZone, Kodobe, Farmz2U, Cdial, RxAll Inc, Curacel, and Evolvestack.

Five (5) out of the fifteen (15) startups supported by the Lagos State Government advanced to the semifinals of the competition. Paddycover, Pricepally, LiveBic, Wellness Health Technologies, and Evolvestack are the startups.

L-R: David Olaniyi, Technical Assistant to Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Innovation and Technology; Bolatito Bucknor-Oladunmoye, Head, Project and Corporate Communications; Adetutu Afolabi, founder Wellness Health Technologies; Tofunmi Babatunde, Founder Kodobe; Ojo Akande, Country representative of the Dubai World trade center; Gboyega Soyanwo, Lagos State Deputy Chief of Staff; Olumide Olaleye, SSA to Lagos State Deputy Governor; Olanrewaju Afinni, Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology; Tubosun Alake, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Innovation and Technology; Dr. Olufemi Hamzat Deputy Governor of Lagos State; Hakeem Fahm, Commissioner for Science and Technology Lagos State; Ibilola Kasunmu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology; Gbemisola Kayode-Bolarinwa, Head of Strategy and Governance Department; Victor Afolabi, founder Eko Innovation Centre; Akeem Hassan, Technical Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Innovation and Technology; Mayowa Owolabi, Co-Founder, PaddyCover; Idris Hamzat, SSA to Lagos State Deputy Governor, among others at the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
Tunbosun Alake, Special Adviser to Lagos state Governor on Innovation and Technology as a Juror on the Supernova Semi-Finalist Pitch Session of the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
Victor Afolabi, founder Eko Innovation Centre with some of the delegates at the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
L-R: Hakeem Fahm, Commissioner for Science and Technology Lagos State; Dr. Olufemi Hamzat Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and some of the VIPs during the VIP Networking Session of the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
L-R: Hakeem Fahm, Commissioner for Science and Technology Lagos State; Dr. Olufemi Hamzat Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and some of the VIPs during the VIP Networking Session of the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
Adetutu Afolabi, founder Wellness Health Technologies (one of the semi-finalist) pitching at the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
Luther Lawoyin, founder, Pricepally (one of the semi-finalist) pitching at the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai
Mayowa Owolabi, co-founder, Paddy Cover (one of the semi-finalist) Pitching at the 42nd Edition of GITEX GLOBAL and NORTH STAR 2022 in Dubai

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