President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said his administration is open to enhance technological advancement, adding that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in this age of technological advancements.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale in a statement saud the President stated this while speaking to the delegates from Meta Platforms Incorporated led by Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs in Abuja
Meanwhile, President Tinubu opined that his government will sustain investment in digital technology to support “small businesses, expand opportunities across sectors, and propel Nigeria to become the lodestar of information and communications technology in Africa”
He added that his administration will establish several channels opportunities in information and communications technology, deepening capacity, and fostering partnerships.
The President stressed that young Nigerians are the most important resource in the country’s arsenal as it works to achieve digital economic expansion, citing his administration’s 3MTT programme as evidence.
Furthermore, he said the initiative which is traininh three million youths in digital technology and critical skills before placing them in innovation hubs around the country.
“For us in Nigeria, we have a vibrant, gifted and resourceful youth population. Recognizing that the future is most likely to be AI-enabled, we have to prepare our youths and make them ready to compete and participate in the global economy.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business. We want to lead the African continent in digital technology. Data is valuable to our development. We are ready to cooperate on technological advancements. It is the only way to go. We need a collaboration that will be a win-win for all,”
The former Lagos State Governor said his is committed to making sure technology is implemented, modified, improved, and leveraged.
“What interests me is the use of technology in the development of small businesses. We need to make the business environment more conducive for you and more profitable for us as well. I hope we can collaborate and continue to promote our mutual interests,” President Tinubu told the delegation.
Speaking, Mr Clegg praised President Tinubu for issuing an executive order that made it possible for the deep-sea cable backed by Meta to land in Nigeria.
“It is an extraordinary infrastructure project. When it comes on stream in the first quarter of 2025, it will be twice as much as the capacity of all subsea cables that exist. We buried the cable 50 percent deeper than any other subsea cables under the seabed.”
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“It is more powerful and more extensive in terms of its geographical connectivity. It could yield up to 37 billion dollars worth of increase in economic activity in the next two or three years across the African continent,” he said.
“We have a lot to do with Nigeria to deepen partnerships,” Mr Clegg added.
According to Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Meta platforms are important platforms in Nigeria; hence, fostering collaborations and involvement is crucial to advancing the sector’s development.
“We must continue to engage to create opportunities for our people so they can also share in global prosperity. Digital technology is an opportunity to connect Africa to contribute to the development of the world,” the Minister said.
