Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creators gatherered in Lagos today, Saturday, 25 October 2025, at Ruby Hall, Zone Tech Park, Gbagada, as Gigbanc, an African neobank for global freelancers and businesses, hosted the first-ever Gigconnect 2025, an event designed to discuss opportunities for growth, global competitiveness, and financial empowerment in Africa’s digital economy.
Themed around unlocking global opportunities in the digital economy, the event brought together hundreds of attendees for a full-day experience of panel sessions, keynote addresses, product demonstrations, live entertainment, and networking opportunities.
Opening the event, Paul Omoregie Okundaye, CEO of Gigbanc, welcomed guests with an inspiring message about the platform’s mission to support digital professionals and freelancers.
“It’s so great to see you all. I’m really excited,” he said. “I think its one of the goals of Gigbanc, to build a community. We want to empower the young generation of Africa to work in the digital space.”
What You Should Know
The first panel session, moderated by Alero Boyo, Founder of AlexBoyo World, focused on “Mastering Skills, Mindset, and Tools for Global Digital Success.”
Panellists included Lynda Aguocha, TV host and founder of LivewithLynda; Paul Omoregie Okundaye, CEO of Gigbanc; and Onyinye Anene-Nzelu, Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank.
Lynda emphasised the importance of embracing technology and artificial intelligence responsibly in creative industries.
“AI isn’t here to take your job — it’s here to help you work faster,” she said. “If you want to compete globally, you must understand how AI can work for you.”
Speaking virtually, Onyinye Anene-Nzelu discussed the significance of skill mastery and global competence.
“To compete globally, you must be among the top one percent. Learn from those ahead of you, identify their strengths, and plan your growth accordingly,” she advised.
Paul rounded off the panel by stressing the need for a growth-oriented mindset.
“Your mindset defines how you approach your work. If you value your craft, others will value you,” he said. “Confidence and excellence are key to standing out globally.”
African Talent on the Global Stage
The second panel, moderated by John Onuorah, Digital Marketing Manager at Gigbanc, explored “How African Talents Can Thrive and Compete Globally.”
Speakers Babatope Oni, Co-founder and CTO of Gigbanc; Daud Sulaimon Abiola, Founder of Skill Afrika; and Adebola ‘REZ’ Afolabi, CTO of Soft-Thread Solutions and Founder of GAB, shared actionable insights on professional growth and competitiveness.
Babatope addressed stereotypes about African professionals, urging excellence and consistency.
“Deliver quality, and people will refer you,” he said. “Referrals matter — especially when you’re reliable and consistent.”
Daud encouraged attendees to define their niche and align their skills with global demand.
“The global economy is moving very fast,” he said. “Be clear about your direction and build competence around what the world needs.”
Adebola highlighted the importance of competence and learning agility.
“Competence comes first, and next is the ability to learn fast. Invest in yourself, keep unlearning and relearning — that’s how you compete globally,” he advised.
Understanding the Keynote
Delivering the keynote address, Ashley Immanuel, Co-founder and CEO of Semicolon, spoke on “Building Africa’s Digital Workforce: The Real Catalyst for Economic Growth and Global Competitiveness.”
She highlighted the growing potential of remote digital jobs to drive prosperity across the continent.
“Africa’s digital workforce holds the power to redefine economic growth,” she said. “By building talent that can compete and collaborate globally, we’re shaping the continent’s future.”
Ashley added that Africa’s progress depends on nurturing young innovators ready to adapt and create impact.
Building the Infrastructure for Africa’s Gig Economy
The event reflects Gigbanc’s long-term vision to create a connected ecosystem that empowers African talents to work, earn, and grow seamlessly across borders, backed by technology-driven tools for payments, collaboration, and career growth.
According to Gigbanc, its mission goes beyond facilitating payments; the company is building a financial and digital infrastructure tailored to Africa’s fast-growing gig economy. Its platform enables freelancers and small business owners to:
- Receive international payments quickly and securely
- Manage income across multiple currencies and platforms
- Access business tools for invoicing, budgeting, and analytics
- Build a verified professional identity to attract global clients
- Gain access to financial services, including savings, microcredit, and insurance
By integrating financial technology with career support, Gigbanc says it is positioning itself as the growth engine for Africa’s digital workforce, helping individuals and small enterprises transition from local service providers to globally competitive players.
What This Means
Throughout the day, participants engaged in breakout sessions focused on personal branding, negotiation, and mastering freelance platforms, before taking part in The Gig Hustle Challenge, a 60-second skill-pitch competition that drew cheers and laughter.
Zulqarinain Shuaib, a Language Scholar and Translator, described the experience as transformative.
“Gigbanc is doing what I would have expected big players such as Flutterwave and Paystack to do. I can’t imagine being in the same hall with so many talents. The energy, and the opportunity to cross fertilize ideas is priceless,” he said.
“The big part is getting to meet other industry leaders, people that you only get to connect with and follow on LinkedIn and X. I enjoyed the entire session. I think it was well curated, and can’t wait to attend future events by the organisation.”
The event closed with entertainment, giveaways, and group photos, capturing the excitement and sense of purpose that defined the inaugural edition.
By the end of the day, attendees told Techparley that Gigconnect 2025 had succeeded in more than just bringing people together, it provided practical tools, insights, and inspiration for Africa’s freelancers and digital entrepreneurs to compete on the world stage.
Oluwaseun Adedeji, a Product Designer and freelancer, praised the event for bridging learning with practical growth.
“I came here expecting a typical tech talk, but what Gigbanc delivered was real value, from actionable insights to actual opportunities. It’s refreshing to see a company that truly understands the freelance economy,” she said.
With its blend of learning, networking, and entertainment, observers say the event underscored Gigbanc’s mission to bridge local talent with global opportunity, setting a strong foundation for the next generation of Africa’s digital workforce.
Bookmark Techparley.com for the most insightful technology news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @Techparleynews, on Facebook at Techparley Africa, on LinkedIn at Techparley Africa, or on Instagram at Techparleynews.
