Bridging the Gap Between Production and Market

For a young shoemaker in Kano, the challenge of building a business often has little to do with raw materials or craftsmanship. While the leather and skills are readily available, the primary obstacle is the disconnect between the producer and potential customers located hundreds of kilometers away. This gap is the central focus of the Global Tech Africa (GTA) Conference 2026, which seeks to use technology as a bridge for commerce across the Sahel region.

Organized by the Futuremap Foundation in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), MTN Nigeria, and the National Communications Commission (NCC), the conference is scheduled for November 3 to 5, 2026, in Kano. Under the theme “Connecting Africa, Accelerating Growth,” the event aims to move digital innovation beyond apps and gadgets toward the factory floors, farms, and trade corridors where tangible economic value is created.

Kano as a Strategic Gateway to the Sahel

Executive Director of the Futuremap Foundation, Dr. Shuaib Sani Shuaib, noted that Kano was specifically selected for the 2026 edition due to its historical status as a commercial nerve center and its strategic position within regional trade networks. The goal is to address the fundamental isolation of African producers from their target markets.

The leather is there, the skill to make the shoe is there but then hundreds of kilometers away there is another young man that wants to buy the same shoe. But at the end of the day there is a disjoint between these two individuals for the fact that the producer does not know how to be able to link up to the person that is going to be buying the shoe.

— Dr. Shuaib Sani Shuaib, Executive Director, Futuremap Foundation

By focusing on the Sahel, a region often overlooked in tech discourse despite its population of 350 million, GTA 2026 plans to emphasize the digitalization of industrial value chains. Specific focus areas include agriculture and leather production, traceability for exports, digital payments for cross-border trade, and smart logistics.

Scaling Impact and Measurable Outcomes

The move to Kano follows the 2024 Lagos conference, which saw over 6,000 participants and facilitated investment commitments valued at $5 million. For the 2026 edition, organizers have set ambitious targets, including 15 industrial partnerships, 1,000 business-to-business meetings, and the creation of a pipeline for more than 500 potential jobs.

Project Manager Mubarak Yusuf explained that the program is designed to provide startups and small businesses with direct access to investors and knowledge sharing. The event will feature decision labs, deal rooms, and industrial design sprints to ensure the discussions result in practical economic activity.

Global Tech Africa is inviting businesses, investors, technology companies, government institutions, development partners, entrepreneurs and ecosystem organizations to participate in Kano edition and contribute to a practical conversation about how technology can support industrialization and market access.

— Mubarak Yusuf, Project Manager, GTA

Corporate Connectivity and the AfCFTA Opportunity

MTN Nigeria, a major partner in the initiative, views the conference as an extension of its commitment to business growth and digital skills development. Chinyelu Chikwendu, SM Innovation at MTN Nigeria, emphasized that the company’s support is rooted in its role as a catalyst for innovation across its network of over 100 million Nigerian subscribers and 300 million users across Africa.

At MTN we are connecting intelligence. We are catalyzing innovation. We are commercializing solutions through various platforms, through our various distribution channels.

— Chinyelu Chikwendu, SM Innovation, MTN Nigeria

As Kano prepares to host the gathering, the conference is also expected to explore opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By strengthening the links between producers, financiers, and consumers, the organizers believe technology can finally close the gap that has historically limited the reach of Africa’s local industries.