Yilwatda to Deliver Strategic Keynote on Nigeria’s Digital Economy Ahead of 2027 Elections

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda is set to deliver a keynote at the 2026 West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) in Lagos on June 25, 2026 with the central theme: ‘Reworking Nigeria Progressively into the Digital Economy with Emerging Digital Tools’.
Setting the technology agenda ahead of 2027 elections, the high-level colloquium is designed to bridge political vision and digital economy strategy as Nigeria’s ICT sector, now contributing over 18 per cent of GDP, and positioning itself for the next development cycle.

As Nigeria approaches the pivotal 2027 general elections, the two-hour colloquium serves as the strategic policy centerpiece of the broader WACC 2026 event, which also features the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy 2026 Recognition Ceremony. Organized by Knowhow Media International, publishers of IT Edge News.Africa since 2004.

The gathering brings together Nigeria’s most influential technology, telecom, finance, and policy leaders at a defining moment for the nation’s digital transformation journey.

With the January 2027 general elections now less than a year away, Yilwatda’s keynote arrives at a critical juncture. The APC National Chairman, a seasoned technocrat and engineer who previously served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, brings a unique blend of political leadership and technology expertise to the platform .

The forum provides a strategic, non-partisan but policy-forward platform to: Articulate the APC’s Technology and Digital Economy Blueprint (2027–2031) as a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda; Engage and mobilize influential stakeholders across ICT, telecommunications, fintech, infrastructure, data, innovation, and the broader private sector; Strengthen party–industry alignment, reinforcing commitment to economic modernization, job creation, digital inclusion, and youth participation, and Position technology-driven governance as central to Nigeria’s next phase of development.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, had said: “Yilwatda is not only a scholar but a seasoned technocrat whose contributions to public service and Nigeria’s digital transformation are well documented.”

The colloquium will convene an influential cross-section of Nigeria’s economic and policy leadership, including: CEOs of ICT and telecom companies – mobile network operators, data centres, ISPs, infrastructure and connectivity providers: CEOs of financial institutions – banks, fintechs, insurance and insurtech firms; Heads of key regulatory bodies and government agencies; Leaders of professional associations – including ICT and engineering bodies.

Also, CEOs of digital education and skills development firms like Funding institutions and venture capital leaders; Startup ecosystem founders and innovators; and Heads of academic institutions and research centres, will also attend.

The audience represents the key opinion shapers and economic actors driving Nigeria’s digital transformation—precisely the stakeholders needed to translate political vision into tangible, people-centred outcomes .

Recognising that sub-national governments are essential drivers of digital inclusion and infrastructure expansion, WACC 2026 extends a special invitation to state governors across Nigeria to participate as Special Guests and Strategic Partners and Strategic Value for States

As Nigeria advances toward the 2027 electoral cycle, the forum presents a unique opportunity for states to position themselves as forward-looking investment destinations within Nigeria’s emerging digital economy landscape.

Participating States will benefit from the colloquium, as governors will have the opportunity to present their states’ development priorities, digital economy initiatives, industrial opportunities, and technology-enabled governance strategies directly to ICT and telecom investors actively seeking partnerships with state governments.

The conference audience includes leaders from Nigeria’s ICT, telecommunications, fintech, cloud infrastructure, and innovation ecosystem—offering states opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP), engagement with technology investors, and exposure to digital solutions that accelerate governance and service delivery.