By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Nigeria and the United
States have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in the digital economy,
with a focus on strengthening investment in critical digital infrastructure,
advancing artificial intelligence adoption and creating new economic opportunities.
Nigeria's Minister of
Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, held talks
with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank
Garcia, to explore areas of collaboration aimed at accelerating Nigeria's digital
transformation agenda.
The discussions focused on
attracting investment into key digital infrastructure, including submarine
cable systems and data centres, which are considered critical to improving
connectivity and supporting the country's growing digital economy.
Both sides also explored
opportunities to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across
various sectors to improve productivity and drive innovation.
The meeting further examined
the possibility of establishing a government-to-government framework designed
to address trade barriers, facilitate business engagement and strengthen
economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
Another key area of
discussion was expanding opportunities for American companies to engage with
participants of Nigeria's 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, a
flagship initiative aimed at developing a globally competitive digital
workforce.
