President Bola Tinubu says his administration will continue to sustain investments in digital technology to enhance the sustainability of small businesses.
Tinubu said such investment would also expand opportunities across sectors and propel Nigeria to become the lodestar of information and communications technology in Africa.
He said this in Abuja on Thursday when he received a delegation from Meta Platforms Incorporated, led by Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs.
The president said Nigeria was opening up channels of opportunities in information and communications technology, deepening capacity, and fostering partnerships in order to catch up with global technological advancements.
He said the administration has engaged in the 3MTT programme that would train three million Nigerian youths in digital technology and essential skills before deploying them to innovation hubs across the nation.
The president said Nigerian youths are the most critical asset in Nigeria’s arsenal as it moves to achieve digital economic expansion.
“For us in Nigeria, we have a vibrant, gifted and resourceful youth population. Recognising that the future is most likely to be AI-enabled, we have to prepare our youths and make them ready to compete and participate in the global economy.
“I can assure you that Nigeria is open for business and we want to lead the African continent in digital technology.
“Data is valuable to our development. We are ready to cooperate on technological advancements. It is the only way to go. We need a collaboration that will be a win-win for all,” Tinubu said.
The president said he is committed to ensuring that technology is deployed, adapted, enhanced, and used to catalyse growth across a vast majority of micro-businesses, spurring mass prosperity down the line.
“What interests me is the use of technology in the development of small businesses. We need to make the business environment more conducive for you and more profitable for us as well. I hope we can collaborate and continue to promote our mutual interests,” Tinubu said.
Earlier in his remarks, Clegg thanked the president for an executive order he issued which enabled the landing of the Meta-backed deep-sea cable in Nigeria.
