The year began on a promising note for Nigeria’s digital economy as Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, led a delegation of prominent Nigerian telecom and tech leaders to the United States for a landmark event.
The delegation witnessed the signing of a historic U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant, aimed at developing 90,000 kilometers of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria. This transformative project will follow critical routes along the national power grid, railways, roads, and oil and gas pipelines, significantly boosting the nation’s digital connectivity.
Kendall Ananyi, CEO of Tizeti, emphasized the project’s potential to revolutionize broadband accessibility in Nigeria. “Once completed, this initiative will reduce Tizeti’s bandwidth cost of sales by 90%, enabling us to generate additional free cash flow to accelerate broadband penetration through our recently launched FreeFiber.Africa project,” he stated.
Strategic Engagements at U.S. Institutions
The Nigerian delegation commenced the day at the U.S. Department of State, engaging with senior officials to solidify bilateral relations. The group then participated in a U.S.-Nigeria Strategic Technology Dialogue roundtable, hosted by the U.S.-Africa Business Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The panel discussions, led by Kendra Gaither, provided a platform to explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
The delegation featured notable figures, including Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity), Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide (Chairman, House Committee on Digital Economy & ICT), Ambassador Samson Itegboje, and Jane Egerton-Idehen of NIGCOMSAT. They were joined by tech leaders like Dr. Bunmi Ajala of NCAIR Nigeria, Victoria Fabunmi of NITDA, and Osibo I., representing Nigeria’s thriving telecoms and tech industries.
On the U.S. side, key government officials such as Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong, and USAID Chief Digital Development Officer Christopher Burns joined the discussions. Jennifer Bachus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and Sarah Whitten, Senior Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, further enriched the dialogue.
Tizeti, a pioneer in Nigeria’s broadband sector, also highlighted its previous collaborations with the USAID Incentive Fund, underscoring the impact of U.S.-Nigeria partnerships in driving development.
Strengthening Ties in Silicon Valley
The delegation’s visit extended to Silicon Valley, where Tizeti hosted the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy team, along with notable figures such as John Onwualu of Flourish Ventures and Chukwuemeka Afigbo. The gathering in San Francisco furthered discussions on the Nigeria Startup House initiative, reinforcing the commitment to foster innovation and technological growth in Nigeria.
The signing of the USTDA grant and the engagements in Washington and Silicon Valley mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward achieving robust digital infrastructure and economic transformation. These strategic collaborations between Nigeria and the United States will undoubtedly accelerate the nation’s push toward a more connected and innovative future.