Omniverse Africa Summit 2025: Uniting Innovation, Culture, And Collaboration

The Omniverse Africa Summit 2025, Africa’s premier technology and innovation gathering, concluded successfully on February 28, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.

The second edition of the four-day event, held from February 25 to 28, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and creative minds to engage in discussions that will shape the future of digital transformation on the continent.

Co-convener Omniverse Africa Summit Charles Emembolu

The summit served as a convergence point for various sectors, including technology, finance, culture, government, and the private sector. It featured over 180 speakers and 200 partners, creating an immersive learning, networking, and collaboration ecosystem to drive Africa’s digital economy forward. It hosted panels, fireside chats, and keynote presentations on topics ranging from controlling the continent’s narrative to building sustainable creative careers.

Exchange of Pleasantries Among Dignitaries including Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture Obi Asika

Notable figures graced the summit, sharing insights on technology, culture, and innovation. Hon. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy emphasized the importance of integrating cultural heritage with technological advancement. Obi Asika, Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), highlighted the role of storytelling in shaping Africa’s global image.

R-L / Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture Obi Asika, Co-Convener Omniverse Africa Summit Charles Emembolu

The European Union Ambassador Gautier Migno and other distinguished guests attended the event, further highlighting its global significance.

R-L / Managing Director Inlandtown New Media Austin Nonso Areh, Director-General National Council for Arts and Culture Obi Asika

Several key stakeholders and industry leaders also participated, strengthening partnerships that will drive innovation and growth in Africa’s tech and creative industries including Funke Opeke, Founder and CEO of MainOne; Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Tomi Davis, Collaborator-in-Chief at TVC Labs and Co-founder of Zeitec, an influential voice in Africa’s tech ecosystem; Zainab Salami, Executive Director and Co-founder of Mswitch; and Mike Feerick, Founder of Alison, a pioneer in online learning and digital education, among others.

Dignitaries and Key Figures from technology, finance, culture, government, and the private sector.

Co-convened by Charles Emembolu Uchenna, the summit was designed to break down barriers between different sectors and create synergies that foster innovation.

The Deal Room facilitated direct engagements between startup founders and investors

In an exclusive interview with INLANDTOWN, Emembolu emphasized the summit’s role in uniting diverse industries:

As you may know, the Omniverse is a platform, and our objective is to break down the silos by bringing together different ecosystems. Of course, you know how digital the world has become, and we are focusing on the tech and creative ecosystem and all the digital intersections around it.

This vision was brought to life through high-level discussions, networking opportunities, and innovative showcases.

Roundtable Discussion

The inaugural edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit took place in 2024, establishing itself as a significant event in Africa’s tech and innovation calendar. The recently concluded summit marked the second edition, building upon the foundation laid in its first year and expanding its reach and impact across the continent.

Gaming Hub

A notable addition to this year’s summit was the Ambassadorial Roundtable, which provided a platform for diplomatic representatives to discuss international partnerships and collaborations. This roundtable aimed to align Africa’s digital transformation goals with global technological advancements, fostering cross-border collaborations and investments.

The summit featured a series of high-level roundtable discussions, including:

Ambassadorial Roundtable: Held on Tuesday, this was the first ambassadorial roundtable in Omniverse history, bringing together foreign missions, state commissioners for tech and creative industries, representatives of the federal government, and top directors in business and technology. The discussions focused on strengthening international collaborations and investment opportunities in Africa’s tech and creative sectors.
Subnational Roundtable: This session engaged policymakers from seven states, discussing the role of state governments in fostering tech-driven economic development.
Nigeria Standup Act Roundtable: This discussion revolved around policies that can drive innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
AI Policy Roundtable: Experts and policymakers deliberated on the implications and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria and the African continent at large.

Some of the key highlights from the event include:

1. Career Centre and Digital Transformation Room

The summit placed a strong emphasis on talent development, with the Omniverse Career Centre offering career counselling and engagement sessions in collaboration with NIITDA and other partners. Discussions on digital transformation and policy conversations were also a major focus. Attendees participated in skill-building sessions and policy discussions aimed at empowering young professionals and entrepreneurs in the digital space.

2. The Deal Room

A major highlight of the summit was the Deal Room, anchored by the Innovation Support Network (ISN)—Nigeria’s only national network for innovation hubs. The Deal Room facilitated direct engagements between startup founders and investors, leading to discussions on startup funding, scaling strategies, and potential partnerships.

3. The Marketplace

The Marketplace provided a platform where organizations across public, private, government, and academia showcased their products, services, and projects. It served as a melting pot for innovation, fostering networking and knowledge exchange.

Market Place

4. Experience Zone

The Experience Zone offered immersive exhibitions, workshops, and talks, providing deep dives into themes like the evolution of African innovation and the changing world of work.

NCAC Stakeholders Session

5. Research Exchange

Musical Performance

On the final day, the Research Exchange session gathered 100 PhD scholars from three continents, both physically and virtually. This initiative aimed to foster research-based projects, promote research commercialization and build a strong network of researchers keen on transforming their findings into practical solutions.

Corps Members at the Event

The summit also hosted a talent hunt, rewarding winners across various categories, particularly in gaming. The Gaming Centre spotlighted outstanding talents, reinforcing the growing relevance of the gaming industry in Africa.

The summit was organized in collaboration with the GIZ/Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria and the Innovation Support Network (ISN). Esteemed partners included the European Union, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Federal Ministry for Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Trace, German Cooperation, British Government, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Genius Hub, Unanimous Games, TechQuest STEM Academy, and Beats FM. This coalition aimed to create an immersive ecosystem of learning, networking, and collaboration, driving Africa’s digital economy forward.

Reflecting on the summit’s impact, Charles Emembolu expressed optimism about the progress made:

I think it’s been a very successful event so far. We had critical stakeholders and keynote speakers from different continents. Tomorrow, we round up with the Research Exchange, setting the stage for the future of innovation in Africa.

The Omniverse Africa Summit 2.0 has set a new benchmark for innovation, collaboration, and policy dialogue in Africa. With its growing influence and strategic partnerships, the summit is well on its way to positioning Africa as a key player in the global digital economy.