The European Union (EU) has held discussions with private sector players in Lagos to forge collaborations and ramp up investments to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy ecosystem.
In line with the Global Gateway Strategy, the EU-Nigeria Digital Economy Package aims to support the country’s digital transition and its ambition of becoming a regional digital hub.
Key initiatives include support for the 90,000-kilometer national fibre-optic expansion, improvement of digital public services, and upskilling of the ICT workforce through programs like the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT).
At a breakfast meeting with the private sector, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, disclosed that the EU is trying to attract private sector support, specifically for the digital infrastructure component, and to boost the public-private partnership framework in Nigeria.
This, he said, would allow the private sector to engage in large-scale projects, such as the 90,000 km expansion, with the support of the EU, which will provide guarantees and a de-risking financial mechanism.
“Digital public services and digital entrepreneurship could also represent a good opportunity for the private sector, as there are many procurement systems that would allow both the EU and Nigerian private sector to be part of this journey in digital,” he said.
Regarding digital infrastructure investment, De Luca said the European Investment Bank (EIB) has so far invested €100 million to expand secure 4G connectivity in Lagos and Ogun states.
According to him, the EU is also providing technical support for the rollout of the 90,000 km fibre-optic cable infrastructure across Nigeria and aims to scale up its support to the Special Purpose Vehicle of the project, bringing connectivity to both urban and rural areas, as stated in Nigeria’s Broadband Strategy.
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“It also leads to improvements in the government interface with citizens and businesses, respecting high standards of privacy, safety, and cybersecurity while promoting an open internet and digital market. This creates opportunities for trusted vendors,” he stated.
Regarding the digitalisation of public services, as a first step, the EIB will support the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with a €250 million loan to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure with the highest data protection standards.
The EU is also providing technical support for the digitalisation of the Office of the Vice-President and discussing key areas of support with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to allow start-ups and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to better enroll in business registration.
The EU is also supporting the creation and scaling up of tech start-ups and boosting innovative solutions for Nigeria’s society and economy, supporting young graduates, MSMEs, and start-ups.
De Luca further explained that the EU supports the development of skills for the emerging digital economy, with a focus on youth and women.
He added, “This is partially achieved by the €9.5 million grant to the DTC project and partially through a €45 million grant to the NJFP, providing on-the-job training for young Nigerians and channelling talent to Nigerian and EU companies across Nigeria.”
Speaking on the support that the EU and Germany are providing to DTC Nigeria, Head of Project GIZ-DTC Nigeria, Thuweba Diwani, said the initiative aims at creating an interface between Nigerian private sector actors in the digital economy and the EU’s private sector actors.
“The EU supports the development of regulatory frameworks with the highest standards of privacy, safety, and cybersecurity while promoting an open internet and digital market that upholds citizens’ rights. In particular, support was provided for the adoption of the Data Protection Law and the Data Protection Commission, bringing Nigerian standards closer to those of the EU and improving enforcement capacity,” he said.
