In a landmark development for Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, global delivery and logistics powerhouse Glovo has formalised a strategic partnership with GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo & Future Economy Summit. This collaboration marks a significant move, as it thoughtfully positions one Nigerian tech startup founder for a life-changing opportunity: participation in the esteemed GlovoStartup Campus—a mentorship and scale-up programme hosted in Barcelona, scheduled for October 2025.
Glovo, widely recognised for seamlessly connecting customers, merchants, and delivery riders across borders, has long run the GlovoStartup Campus, a signature initiative that invites hand-picked tech innovators from across the globe to its Barcelona headquarters. The programme centres on intensive mentoring, high-value networking, and deep knowledge exchange—everything needed to help promising startups scale their impact.
Until now, participation in this initiative has been limited to markets outside Nigeria. But with this new alliance, Nigeria becomes the first country on the African continent to be included—highlighting both Glovo’s growing footprint in Africa and Nigeria’s ascending role in global innovation.
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A First for Nigeria: Glovo’s Bold Expansion into Africa’s Tech Landscape
Glovo’s decision to extend the GlovoStartup Campus to Nigeria for the first time is a bold statement of intent. It carries a powerful message: Africa—and Nigeria in particular—are no longer just emerging markets; they are emerging solutions-driven ecosystems, ripe for investment, collaboration, and global recognition.
In announcing the collaboration, Lamide Akinola, General Manager of Glovo Nigeria, emphasised how this joint endeavour underscores a commitment to shine a spotlight on the continent’s fast-evolving tech environment. She pointedly noted that Africa’s tech ingenuity is driving global trends—not merely following them.
The timing is ideal. As GITEX Nigeria unveils itself in 2025 as the continent’s premier technology and startup festival, Glovo’s support adds tangible value, especially for founders looking to plug into international networks and upscale their businesses.
What This Means for Nigerian Founders—and Why It Matters
For Nigerian entrepreneurs, this partnership offers more than just a trip abroad—it offers both exposure and empowerment:
- Global Mentorship & Networks: Participants gain direct access to industry experts and peers from around the world, opening doors to global best practices and collaboration.
- Showcasing Local Solutions Globally: Nigeria’s dynamic innovation ecosystem gains visibility on the international stage, helping home-grown solutions find audiences beyond local borders.
- Bridging Local Innovation with Global Opportunity: As platform-driven models disrupt logistics, e-commerce, and urban planning, this partnership creates pathways for Nigerian startups to co-create with global leaders.
During the 2025 GITEX Nigeria Startup Festival—held alongside the Tech Expo—founders will engage in not just pitching and match-making, but also in deep conversations around digital inclusion, sustainable urban logistics, and policy frameworks that underpin smart platform growth.
Akinola shared her excitement at the convergence of stakeholders—entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers—who can co-create solutions tailored to uniquely African challenges. “This isn’t just about logistics or technology,” she said. “It’s about crafting policy and partnership frameworks that unlock the next chapter of e-commerce in Nigeria and beyond.”
The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Expectations
This initiative sets the stage for a vibrant, cross-border startup culture. With Glovo activating the pathway to Barcelona, and GITEX Nigeria serving as the platform for selection, several exciting developments lie ahead for Nigeria’s tech community:
- Local Competition, Global Rewards
As the programme unfolds, one standout Nigerian startup owner emerging from the GITEX Nigeria Startup Festival will win the coveted place at the 2025 GlovoStartup Campus. That founder will head to Spain for tailored sessions, pitch clinics, growth coaching, and global networking. - Building Ecosystem Momentum
The visibility and learnings from this window will radiate back into Nigeria’s growing ecosystem. Founders, ecosystems builders, investors, and policymakers will return with fresh perspectives and new collaborations. - Elevated Dialogue around Policy and Inclusion
With emphasis on digital inclusion and sustainable urban logistics, the partnership reframes the narrative—beyond technology, towards scalable, socially impactful innovation anchored in African contexts. - Catalysing Entrepreneurial Confidence
Nigeria’s rising cohort of startup founders will see this exchange as encouragement: local solutions are not just good enough—they are globally competitive.
A Strategic Leap for Nigeria’s Startup Scene
In shaping this collaboration, Glovo and GITEX Nigeria have done more than launch a contest—they’ve created a bridge. A bridge that carries ambition from Lagos to Barcelona, and brings global mentorship back into Nigeria’s boardrooms.
This move is timely, purposeful, and pioneering. It signals Nigeria’s readiness to graduate from being a regional startup hub to becoming part of the global innovation narrative. For the founder chosen, the experience promises transformation. For Nigeria, it’s a moment to reaffirm: we are innovators—not just participants.
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