ABUJA – Nigeria and the United States are exploring new avenues of cooperation aimed at accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy through increased investment, technology collaboration, and talent development.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this following a meeting with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, where both sides discussed strategies to strengthen bilateral cooperation across critical areas of the digital economy.
According to the minister, discussions focused on expanding investments in key digital infrastructure, including submarine cable systems and data centres, to improve connectivity, support innovation, and enhance Nigeria’s digital capabilities.
The meeting also explored opportunities to advance the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various sectors of the economy to boost productivity, improve service delivery, and unlock new economic opportunities for both countries.
A major highlight of the engagement was the consideration of a government-to-government framework designed to address trade barriers, facilitate greater business collaboration, and encourage increased investment between Nigeria and the United States.
The two officials further discussed opportunities for American companies to engage with and recruit highly skilled participants from Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, one of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives aimed at developing a globally competitive digital workforce.
Dr. Tijani said the discussions underscored the shared commitment of both countries to fostering stronger partnerships capable of attracting investment, creating employment opportunities for young Nigerians, and positioning Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.
He noted that collaboration with the United States remains critical to the Federal Government’s efforts to build world-class digital infrastructure, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and equip Nigerian youths with the skills needed to compete in the global digital marketplace.
Industry stakeholders believe deeper Nigeria-U.S. cooperation in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and talent development could significantly enhance technology transfer, stimulate foreign direct investment, and accelerate the country’s digital transformation agenda.
