EU reaffirms commitment to Nigeria's digital growth

EU Flag — European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman

The European Union has reaffirmed its dedication to bolstering Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, recognising its potential to revitalize the economy.

The European Union stated that by doing so, it aims to equip Nigerian youths with essential digital skills, ultimately creating much-needed employment opportunities across the country.

Under the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU is leading the charge in digital investments through a Digital Package of €820 million. From building robust digital and governance infrastructure to driving digital skills development and creating new jobs, the EU is putting its weight behind Nigeria’s digital transformation.

At the Omniverse Summit in Lagos, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, highlighted these efforts, underscoring the importance of events like this in connecting Africa’s top startups, policymakers, and innovators into one dynamic digital ecosystem.

He said, “The European Union is very proud to partner with the Omniverse Summit because it is a wonderful example of what we are trying to achieve through what we call the Global Gateway Strategy of cooperation, partnering with Germany and Nigerian partners to connect people and support innovation. We also aim to achieve a triple transition that the world needs to do—green, digital, and inclusive—creating jobs and opportunities, particularly here in Nigeria, for young people.

“Digitalisation is at the heart of our priorities under this Global Gateway Strategy here in Nigeria. We are supporting regulations because the digital world and innovations need regulations.”

While reaffirming the EU’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s digital future, empowering innovation hubs and youth-led businesses across the continent, Amb. Mignot said, “The EU is keeping its commitment with the over €800 million digital package we announced some years ago in Nigeria. We believe that the problems that humanity is facing will be solved by our collective action, not against one another. Also, we are convinced that Nigeria, Africa, and Europe’s destinies are closely interlinked.

“We are partnering with the Omniverse Summit, together with our German friends also. We are very proud to do that because we want to give Nigerian youths opportunities to upgrade their skills and find new jobs. I’m sure that from this event, new projects, partnerships, and deals have started.”

The summit is organized in collaboration with various partners, including the European Union, GIZ’s Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEED) and Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Federal Ministry for Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, among others.