Tech

EU mulls €820m investment in Nigeria’s digital economy

The European Union (EU) under its Gateway Initiative has disclosed plans to invest about €820 million in the Nigerian digital economy sector over the next three years.

Executive Vice President of the EU, Mrs. Margre Vestager, disclosed this in a statement signed by Mrs. Uwa Suleiman, spokesperson for the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, on Monday, in Abuja.

Vestager, who was on a working visit, enumerated the union’s intervention in the sector to include: digital infrastructure investments, digitalisation of public services, digital entrepreneurship, digital skills and digital governance.

“Nigeria has immense potential for digitalisation and with a combination of €160 million in grants and €660 million in loans, the EU aims to comprehensively support Nigeria’s digitalisation strategy,” she said.

In his response, Pantami expressed delight and appreciation for the intervention and reiterated the Federal Government’s willingness to partner with the European Union.

Pantami emphasised on the digital entrepreneurship and its immense impacts on the nation’s economy.

The minister further informed the delegation that Nigeria hoped to achieve the paperless office by the year 2030, which was already on track.

“Africa has always looked up to Europe in the area of technological advancements and this partnership is a welcome development that will project the digitalisation aspirations of our country.

“This partnership with regards to digital entrepreneurship, will address the challenge of unemployment and non-employability alongside the Nigeria Startup Bill which also aims to address a myriad of issues within the ecosystem.

“The European Union intervention is in alignment with the Nigeria Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS),” he said.

TheStar

Editor

Recent Posts

Kaduna govt earmarks N93bn to boost water supply

The Kaduna State Government has announced plans to spend N93 billion over four years for…

2 hours ago

Trump picks campaign manager as White House chief of staff

United States President-elect Donald Trump, on Thursday, November 7, 2024, announced that one of his…

2 hours ago

EPL fixtures: Chelsea host Arsenal as Liverpool face Aston Villa

Chelsea will aim to deepen Arsenal's misery in their Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge…

3 hours ago

NAICOM gives insurers December 31 deadline to clear outstanding claims

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance companies a December 31, 2024, deadline to…

5 hours ago

Makinde: Nigerians looking up to PDP, we’ll fix party to fix Nigeria

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde says the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will do everything…

5 hours ago

National grid collapse: Minister orders TCN to implement c’ttee’s recommendations

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and…

6 hours ago

This website uses cookies.