If you thought Nigeria's tech scene started and ended in Lagos, Arewa Tech Fest is here to correct that gist. On October 21–22, 2026, at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, ATF brings its "Lagos Exchange" edition to town, with one mission: bridging Northern Nigeria's innovation ecosystem to the wider Lagos and global market.
The buzz around this one is real, and it's easy to see why once you check the speaker list. Leading the pack is Tosin Eniolorunda, founder and Group CEO of Moniepoint — the fintech giant now processing tens of billions of dollars monthly and ranked among Africa's fastest-growing companies. For anyone building in fintech, hearing him speak isn't just inspiration, it's a masterclass from someone who literally wrote the first POS software many Nigerian businesses still run on today.
But the real showstopper for fans is who else is in the room. His Royal Highness Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, brings a rare traditional and economic voice to a tech stage — a reminder that this event isn't just startups and pitch decks, it's policy, culture, and commerce colliding. Add His Excellency Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, and you've got government, royalty, and fintech all under one roof, talking about the same thing: unlocking the North's digital and economic potential.
If you're wondering whether ATF can actually deliver on that promise, past editions give a good clue. The maiden edition held in Kano in September 2024, convened by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and backed by the Kano State Government, and it came out swinging — keynotes, hackathons, and masterclasses, plus the launch of the Arewa Tech Fund to bankroll promising Northern startups. Speakers that year included the Emir of Kano, the President of Afreximbank, and the CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, so the "big names on stage" tradition isn't new for ATF.
The 2.0 edition followed in Katsina, May 2025, described by co-founder Deji Garuba as a way to prove that "Arewa deserves its place in the national and global tech conversation." That edition leaned harder into hands-on programming — masterclasses, fireside chats, product exhibitions, and a Pitchathon where selected startups competed for real funding and mentorship. Katsina was picked deliberately for its young population and growing digital activity, showing organisers are chasing impact beyond the big cities.
Now, with the Lagos Exchange edition, ATF is taking a different swing: instead of bringing the conversation to the North, it's bringing the North's story to Lagos' business capital. Expect executive roundtables, keynote conversations, and the kind of networking where partnerships and investment deals actually start forming — not just handshake photos.
Standard passes go for just ₦5,000 via arewatechfest.com — small money for access to conversations shaping Nigeria's next big economic story. If you've followed ATF's journey from Kano to Katsina, this Lagos chapter feels like the natural next step, and it's worth being in the room for.
