In 2025, Lagos was recognised as the world’s leading emerging tech ecosystem, marking a major milestone for a startup scene that has attracted billions of dollars over the past decade.
Fintech led the charge, producing household names like Flutterwave and Moniepoint while tackling deep-seated friction in payments and financial access. The success of these companies was not just tech hype or inflated valuations; it proved what happens when capital, policy, and execution align to solve real-world problems.
But that concentration of focus created a dangerous blind spot. As venture capital, public attention, and ecosystem support rushed into asset-light software, the businesses that keep the country running day-to-day, those operating in the “real economy”, were left largely in the cold.
This story is free for Condia Insiders only.
Keep reading free. Join the community at the forefront of African tech.
Already an Insider? Sign in
