Nigeria has secured a €45 million investment commitment from the European Union to advance its digital economy, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to expand digital infrastructure, strengthen e-governance, and develop technology talent.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in Brussels during the EU–Nigeria Digital Open Day, where the European Commission formally unveiled the funding under the EU–Nigeria Digital Economy Package. Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, led the Nigerian delegation at the high-level engagement.
According to Dr. Tijani, discussions at the event brought together European government and business leaders across several thematic areas critical to Nigeria’s digital transformation. These included secure connectivity and digital infrastructure, with a focus on fibre backbone expansion, subsea cables, 5G deployment, and nationwide last-mile access.
The sessions also addressed e-governance solutions and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), covering digital identity systems, interoperability frameworks, electronic payments, and citizen-centered public services. In addition, digital skills and talent development featured prominently, with Nigeria showcasing the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration with European partners.
Dr. Tijani described the EU’s €45 million commitment as a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria’s digital future. He noted that the investment aligns with the broader economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at positioning Nigeria to achieve a $1 trillion economy.
The minister expressed appreciation to European Commissioner Jozef Síkela and the European Union Delegation to Nigeria for their continued partnership and support, emphasizing the role of international cooperation in accelerating Nigeria’s digital and economic development.