In a recent address at the Nigerian-French Technology Roundtable held in Lagos, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, urged the nation’s tech sector to fully exploit the opportunities that arise from international partnerships.
This call to action comes in anticipation of Nigeria’s participation in the upcoming VivVivaTech Technology Conference 2025 in Paris, which Tijani hailed as a crucial moment for the country’s digital economy. He stressed that forums like VivaTech offer invaluable platforms for showcasing Nigeria’s innovations and establishing its tech startups as formidable players on the global stage.
“By leveraging France’s expertise in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and sustainability, we can significantly enhance our innovation ecosystem,” Tijani remarked.
He also announced ongoing initiatives, including the development of a joint technology market aimed at promoting innovation.
Furthermore, he detailed plans for a substantial 90-kilometre fiber-optic cable project intended to reinforce Nigeria’s internet infrastructure.
“This partnership represents a significant step forward in creating an environment where our tech startups can thrive, attract venture capital, and generate opportunities for economic growth,” he stated.
Laurent Favier, the Consul General of France in Nigeria, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the vital role of technology in enhancing Nigeria’s international presence.
“France is proud to collaborate in this journey,” Favier said, highlighting the importance of events like VivaTech for nurturing global partnerships and expanding Nigeria’s influence in the digital economy.
The roundtable, organized in collaboration with the French Embassy and Globacom, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and representatives from VivaTech to discuss avenues for collaboration. Participants focused on how Nigeria’s engagement in VivaTech could stimulate investment, drive innovation, and augment the country’s technological stature on the world stage.
This event underscored Nigeria’s emerging status as a hub for technological advancement. VivaTech, an annual technology conference and trade show in Paris, serves as a global meeting ground for startups, investors, and established firms to share insights and showcase the latest technological breakthroughs.
