L-R: Folajimi Daodu, Founder & CEO, Vault Hill; Alexa Jago, CEO, New Horizon Pictures & Board of Directors, BAFTA North America; Ibraheem Diab, Founder/Director, UPT House; Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer, FilmOne Limited at LEAP forum in Saudi Africa recently
Nigeria made a resounding impact at LEAP 2025, the world’s leading technology event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a delegation of top government officials, business leaders, investors, and innovators took center stage to showcase the country’s growing influence in the global digital economy.
At the forefront of this historic representation was Folajimi Daodu, CEO & Founder of Vault Hill, whose strategic leadership ensured Nigeria was not only present but actively shaping discussions on fintech, AI, blockchain, climate tech, investment, and digital transformation, according to a statement.
With Nigeria’s technology ecosystem gaining international recognition, LEAP 2025 provided an unparalleled platform to reinforce the country’s position as a key player in global innovation and economic advancement.
A strategic representation of Nigeria’s Best Minds delegation at LEAP 2025 featured an impressive lineup of industry leaders and policymakers, each contributing valuable insights on the future of digital transformation and economic development.
At the event, Oludele Awodele, a professor at Babcock University delivered a thought-provoking session on AI, Data Sovereignty & Blockchain, examining how these technologies will shape the education sector and ensure digital equity while Maria Dervenco, COO, Vault Hill, according to the statement spoke on the intersection of AI, blockchain, and immersive technology, emphasizing Nigeria’s role in digital identity and the future of the metaverse.
Leonard Uguru, Commissioner for Finance, Ebonyi State took the stage in a high-level panel discussion on “Regulation vs Innovation”, highlighting Nigeria’s balanced approach to fintech policy and economic growth; Olu Oyinsan, Managing Partner, Oui Capital, made presentation on Bridging the Digital Divide & Financial Empowerment, underlining Africa’s potential in digital finance.
Folajimi Daodu,CEO, Vault Hill, delivered two high-impact addresses: “Global Perspectives on Impact Investing”, positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for tech-driven investments. The second presentation was on “The Role of AI in Merging Gaming, Fintech, and Digital Assets”, showcasing Nigeria’s innovation in the evolving digital economy while Henry Mascot, founder, Curacel led discussions on Next-Generation APIs & the Future of Fintech Innovation, reinforcing Nigeria’s fintech dominance.
The statement further said that beyond the conference halls, the Nigerian delegation led by Folajimi Daodu paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Embassy in Riyadh, where they engaged in discussions on: Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) – Securing strategic investments for Nigerian enterprises and startups; Expanding bilateral trade partnerships – Strengthening Nigeria’s position as a preferred business partner in the Middle East and Scaling Nigerian businesses globally – Facilitating expansion opportunities for Nigerian companies in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region.
