Nigeria eyes US investment in AI, digital infrastructure

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has announced a strategic move to attract increased investment from U.S. companies into Nigeria’s digital sector.

This development followed his meeting with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Arun Venkataraman and his team, Tijani said on X (formerly Twitter) Friday.

He said the discussions, held in his office, centred around enhancing Nigeria’s ICT and startup ecosystem, with key areas focused on artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, data interoperability, and privacy.

Both parties also explored the potential of President Biden’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative, which aims to expand digital access and literacy while strengthening the digital enabling environment across the continent.“We explored opportunities around AI and digital infrastructure, which are crucial for the growth of our tech ecosystem,” Tijani stated.

“I’m particularly looking forward to their support as we set up the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco, which is geared at supporting Nigerian businesses looking to raise funding in and around Silicon Valley.”

According to the minister, the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco is expected to be a pivotal hub for Nigerian startups seeking investment and collaboration in the global tech arena.Tijani expressed optimism about the positive impact of those discussions on Nigeria’s digital economy and the broader African digital landscape.