U.S.-Nigeria strengthens bilateral cooperation for digital transformation

The U.S. Department of State and Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has convened the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Technology Dialogue in Washington, D.C., marking a significant step toward enhancing bilateral cooperation in critical technology sectors. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Minister Bosun Tijani led the dialogue, underscoring their mutual commitment to leveraging technology and innovation for economic and social progress.

The dialogue follows several high-impact engagements, including the U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) meeting in April 2024, the Global Inclusivity and Artificial Intelligence event in Lagos, and the AI-focused session at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. These initiatives have fostered trust and paved the way for deeper partnerships between the two nations in technology and innovation.

One of the key outcomes of the dialogue was the signing of a $2.1 million grant by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to evaluate the deployment of at least 90,000 kilometers of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria. This initiative supports Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, which aims to increase broadband penetration from 42.27% to 70% and provide affordable and reliable broadband access to 90% of the population.

The project aligns with the U.S. government’s Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, which seeks to promote investment-friendly environments, enhance digital infrastructure, and support skill development in Africa’s digital economy.

The Technology Dialogue addressed pressing issues, including resilience and security, digital trade and innovation, workforce development, AI collaborations, information integrity and industry roundtable. The U.S.-Nigeria delegations participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, featuring over 25 companies from both nations.

In line with the dialogue’s objectives, the United States and Nigeria announced a virtual expert exchange on AI-enabled biotechnology. This initiative will explore how the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology can address global challenges such as health, food security, and scientific progress, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye