PH Tech Expo 2026: Niger Delta must move from oil to tech

…Regrets Nigeria’s slow pace as India, China shoot ahead

Niger Delta region must move its hope and economy from oil to technology especially startup.

This is as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Nigerian IT buffs to move from startup to scale up.

These were the highlights on the opening day of the 2026 edition of the Port Harcourt Tech Exposition (PHTECHEXPO26) which was unveiled Thursday, June 11, 2026.

Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who unveiled the two-day event, made it clear that tech is a leveler; it is for both the rich and poor.

He said the new wealth sector at the moment is tech, and that the region must join join that class.

“For this to happen, we need collaboration between the public and private sectors. Government should be funding clearly identified talents and developers. This way, government would be helping to create jobs for the youths.”

He said tech can lead Nigeria to youth agric revolution, saying job are now scarce.

He thus explained why the NDDC agreed to host the annual Tech Expo series now in its third year, said it is to help create wealth and open job opportunities.

“This is the real job area. The new orphan is someone who is lazy, not a person without parents. You do not need a father or mother to succeed.

“Many are not practicing what they studied in the University. Some change to other professions after studying high sounding courses.”

He urged youths to strive to be better than the present generation by taking advantage of things such as the tech expo. “You should come up with Apps. That is your won oil well. That is where government comes in. Challenge government with creativity and initiatives to support you.”

He warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could take away jobs but admitted that those who are ahead of AI would lead the pack.

Ogbuku said the theme of the year, ‘Syntropy’ is apt because it talks of collaboration working together. Syntropy is the tendency of systems to move toward greater complexity, order, and organization.

In his opening remarks, Aristotle Onumo, the director of corporate planning and strategy, from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who represented Kashifu Unuwa Abdullahi, the Director-General, noted that Nigeria must move from emergence to syntropy, from startup to scale-up.

He said opportunities were abundant for startups in Nigeria especially in the Niger Delta. “The future is now about collaboration. The world’s most valuable assets are now invisible because what is in the mind is bigger than what is being mined”.

Speaking, Aleruchi Akani, permanent secretary of the Rivers State ICT Department, said there are many startups in Port Harcourt that have found their way to Abuja and abroad.

She said Rivers State would soon unveil its ICT policy and a law.