13/09/2026
Arewa Tech Fest (ATF), one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for innovation and
ecosystem development in Northern Nigeria, has clarified its positioning ahead
of its upcoming engagements, emphasizing that the platform remains firmly
rooted in the North.
Since its inception, Arewa Tech Fest has been designed as a Northern Nigeria–focused festival, with successful editions held as Spotlight on Kano (2024) and
Spotlight on Katsina (2025). The next edition, Spotlight on Zamfara, is
currently in development and will continue this mission of driving innovation,
entrepreneurship, and ecosystem growth within the region.
As part of its broader expansion strategy, ATF has introduced “The Lagos Exchange” a targeted investment roadshow designed to connect Northern Nigeria’s growing innovation ecosystem with capital, corporate partners, and global stakeholders.
Contrary to common assumptions, the Lagos Exchange is not a festival and does not represent a relocation of Arewa Tech Fest to Lagos. Instead, it is a curated, high-level engagement platform focused on unlocking investment opportunities for startups and sectors emerging from Northern Nigeria.
The Lagos Exchange will feature a focused programme including keynote addresses, executive roundtables, a capital room for private deal-making sessions, and a demo day exclusively for Arewa startups to pitch to investors.
Arewa Tech Fest is built in the North, for the North. The Lagos Exchange is a deliberate extension taking Northern innovation to world.
The introduction of the Lagos Exchange marks the beginning of a broader strategy to take Northern Nigeria’s innovation story beyond regional boundaries, with plans to expand similar roadshows to other cities across Africa and globally.
Arewa Tech Fest remains committed to its core mission of empowering Northern Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, while building the bridges required to ensure that talent, ideas, and enterprises from the region gain the visibility,
investment, and partnerships needed to scale.
