Last week, Lagos once again reminded us why it’s one of Africa’s most vibrant innovation capitals. At AOT Lagos (Art of Technology Lagos), Nigeria's premier tech conference, we saw industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and the next generation of problem-solvers under one roof, each with a vision for the future of business and technology. This edition of AOT brought together innovators, investors, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts, bridging the policy and innovation divide to drive digital transformation and policy-making for a tech-driven future.

With the theme “Future Technologies & a Sustainable Lagos”, AOT 7.0 brought in 23,691 registrants from 103 countries and 11,127 attendees, as well as the Collaborate Lagos initiative, an accelerator pitch session which connects investors, startups, and industry stakeholders in key sectors such as AgriTech, Health, Education, and Smart Cities, and offered significant prizes, including a ₦25M prize pool, visibility, and more. 

A highlight was Sarah Sabry, the first African, African woman and Egyptian to make history by going to space. Her session was on breaking down barriers while outgrowing your limitations; and the takeout was simple, ‘Don’t let anyone box you in. Challenge the norm, keep getting better and grow past the status quo.’ 

At the centre of this dynamic environment was Simon, the CEO & Co-Founder of Axendit, who was invited to serve as a judge at Collaborate Lagos, along with the Axendit team. In a room filled with dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Simon brought his extensive knowledge of product development and a track record of continuous innovation and growth to evaluating each pitch with precision and experience.

The pitch session was a reminder that the talent pipeline in Lagos is richer than ever, and collaboration isn’t a theme, but a necessity. Founders and representatives from 10 companies from the Environmental, Educational, Sustainability, Health, and Food sectors came prepared, pitching new and ground-breaking products designed to scale, not merely survive. Their clarity, courage, and commitment to solving African challenges with African-born solutions made the session unforgettable. 

Axendit has always believed in the power of collaboration, and our presence at Collaborate Lagos wasn’t symbolic; it was intentional. It reflected our commitment to drive positive

change using technology, supporting the next generation of African innovators, championing ecosystems that encourage innovation, and showing up for the conversations that shape Africa’s future. By engaging directly with the participants, we reaffirmed Axendit’s position not just as a participant in Africa’s tech evolution, but as an active contributor to it with innovative solutions that have a transformational impact.

As the conversations wrapped, one thing became clear: Collaborate Lagos is not just another conference. It’s a blueprint for how African innovation can scale when we create shared spaces for ideas, feedback, and partnership. Congratulations to Buyscrap Nigeria on an impressive win, and a huge appreciation to the Lagos state government for keeping the engine of innovation running. AOT 8.0 is next, we’re already counting down, and yes, we’ll be there!