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FG Taking Significant Steps to Position Nigeria in Global Tech Race – Pantami
Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has said that in the last few years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Econony, has been taking significant steps to position Nigeria in the global tech race.
Pantami spoke on Tuesday, in Abuja, while declaring open the 10th Edition of the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition themed: “Positioning Africa in the Global Tech Race.”
He said that the Buhari administration recognised the need for a regulatory environment that supports, rather than stifles development, and has developed a number of policies in this regard.
“Nigeria has a potential critical mass of ‘digital natives’ that can transform the country into a regional and global digital powerhouse. These creative Nigerians.
“These creative Nigerians can play a key role in the creation of digital jobs across all sectors of the country; jobs that are either based on or are dependent upon Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs),” Pantami said.
While noting that the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) emphasises the importance of the innovation and startup ecosystem to the development of an indigenous digital economy, the Minister pledged that his ministry will continue to position Nigeria to develop this ecosystem to transform the country into a sustainable and thriving digital economy.
He stated that in recognition of the role of emerging technologies and in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Federal Government is actively building competence in these technologies and have set up a National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to serve as the digital laboratory for advancing skills development and innovation in emerging technologies in Nigeria.
“In addition, we are establishing a National ICT Park and a National Digital Innovation Centre to create an atmosphere that would usher in innovation-driven culture among the Nigerian populace,” he said.
Pantami said that for Africa to assert itself in the global tech space, there is need effective collaboration, and insisted that “we must urgently improve international
cooperation and work together towards achieving our national and regional development plans in building the Africa we want.”
While reiterating Federal Government’s commitment to providing the enabling environment required for such partnerships to thrive, he reaffirmed government’s willingness to continued partnerships and forging new ones with industry stakeholders in this regard.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of Digital Africa Limited, organisers of the tech show, Dr. Evans Woherem noted that for a decade, Digital Africa has been an advocate and breeding place of informed debate and independent analysis, on issues to do with tech and Africa, leading to the generation of new, incisive policy proposals.
He said the theme of this year’s conference couldn’t have been more timely and relevant than now, technology is fast evolving at an exponential speed, and is today disrupting almost every industry in all countries of the world.
“Looking carefully at our development myopia and non-progress compared to what is happening in other continents, we can conclude that Africa is currently living in a Matrix Simulation. In other words, we are passing through an Alternate Reality within our Multiverse.
“There are billions of possible realities at any one point in time that applies to an individual, to a society, to a country and even to the whole world. I believe that it is an alternate reality that we are experiencing here in Africa. This is not the reality we started out with.
“I believe somewhere along the line of our evolutionary trajectory and paradigm, something flipped, leading to an inflexion point that took us to an alternate reality. even when some other parts of the world continued with their original reality,” he said
Woherem expressed confidence that even in this present reality, Africa should muster enough will power to begin to do the right things, so that it can go back to its mis-aligned reality.
“We have to see it as a challenge to get Africa back to its historical standing, embrace the right mentality to move Africa forward, and shun any negativity that have hampered Africa’s growth. We can reposition Africa!”
The opening ceremony was also used to honour some corporate organisations that have over the years supported the Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition.
The companies include VDT Communications, Chams Access, Africa Data Centre, and Zoracom.
Mobility technology company, Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C funding round at a valuation of $2.1 billion, reaching unicorn status.
The startup will deploy the fresh capital to build out autonomous vehicle infrastructure, expand fleet ownership, construct robotics-focused “Nests” for charging and maintenance, and grow its autonomous workforce from 150 to 500 by year-end.
The company plans to enter additional global markets, reflecting a strategy to build the operational infrastructure required for large-scale autonomous transportation rather than simply supplying vehicles.
Led by Mubadala Investment Company and co-led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s Growth Fund, and Ion Pacific, the round also included new investors BlueCrest Capital Management, Sona Asset Management and The Raptor Group, alongside existing backers BlackRock, MUFG, Franklin Templeton and Uber.
“Autonomous mobility is becoming an infrastructure race requiring fleets, charging systems, maintenance, data infrastructure and continuous city-level operations,” said Ladi Delano, co-founder, co-CEO and advisory board chairman of Moove.
Founded in Lagos in 2020, Moove has grown into a global mobility platform employing about 3,300 people across 29 cities in 13 countries, operating approximately 42,000 vehicles and reaching $420 million in annualised recurring revenue.
It has expanded organically and through acquisitions, including Kovi in Brazil and Tokyo Taxi in Japan. Moove also operates autonomous vehicle fleets in partnership with Waymo in Phoenix and Miami, with London expected to join its footprint.
The $2.1 billion valuation places Moove among Africa’s small group of tech unicorns, alongside Flutterwave, OPay, Moniepoint, Andela, Chipper Cash, Wave, Tyme, MNT-Halan and Interswitch.
The $250 million round is the largest single funding deal announced by an African startup this year, though EV mobility firm Spiro raised $270 million cumulatively across two separate rounds.
The World Bank Group has announced the 31-month debarments of United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL), a transportation services company based in Nigeria, and Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, its owner and president, “in connection with fraudulent practices under the Enhancing Niger Northeastern Connectivity Project,” according to a press release issued by the multilateral development bank.
The statement said that the project aims to enhance connectivity and road safety along the Zinder-Agadez Road section and improve access to basic socioeconomic infrastructure for selected communities in that road section.
However, according to the statement: “UNASEL and Mr. Mamu presented false experience documents in a prequalification application to qualify for a contract under the project. This was a fraudulent practice under the World Bank’s sanctions framework.”
“The debarments make UNASEL and Mr. Mamu ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by Bank Group institutions. The debarments are part of two settlement agreements under which UNASEL and Mr. Mamu admit culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices,” it added.
The statement further said: “Per the Bank Group Sanctioning Guidelines, the settlement agreements provide for a reduced period of debarment in light of UNASEL and Mr. Mamu’s cooperation.
As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreements, UNASEL and Mr. Mamu commit to developing and implementing integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines, and Mr. Mamu further agrees to complete corporate ethics training.
UNASEL and Mr. Mamu also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency.
“The debarments of UNA SEL and Mr. Mamu qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.”
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, has approved the allocation of a parcel of land in Enugu, the state capital, for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Digital Fabrication Centre by the Industrial Training Fund.
Mbah announced this while receiving a delegation from the Industrial Training Fund on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu.
The ITF disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Thomas Ngor.
According to the statement, Mbah described the proposed project as timely and aligned with his administration’s vision of transforming Enugu into a leading destination for investment, innovation and technology-driven industrial development.
He noted that the future of economic prosperity lies in deliberate investments in human capital and emerging technologies, adding that the state has continued to create an enabling environment for innovation, enterprise and sustainable growth.
The governor explained that his administration has made technical education compulsory in the state’s basic education system, with emphasis on digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics to prepare learners for the future of work.
According to him, many traditional trades are now driven by digital technologies, making it imperative to equip young people with relevant technical competencies that will enable them to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Governor Mbah further disclosed that his administration has built smart schools across the state, equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern learning facilities, to prepare youths for the evolving global economy.
He noted that artificial intelligence is expected to contribute about $20tn to the global economy in the coming years.
He therefore stressed that the state must be intentional about upskilling its citizens, adding that the establishment of the ITF Digital Fabrication Centre will significantly strengthen the state’s drive to build a knowledge-based economy, foster innovation, promote local manufacturing and create employment opportunities for its growing youthful population.
Earlier, Afiz Ogun, the Director-General of the ITF, who led the delegation, said that upon his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, he was mandated to upskill Nigerian artisans to international standards.
He explained that the Fund subsequently repositioned its technical and vocational skills development efforts through strategic initiatives, including the Skill-Up Artisans Programme, which is designed to train, certify and license Nigerian artisans to international standards.
Ogun disclosed that the Fund had already established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with the capacity to produce more than 400 different products. He therefore requested the allocation of land in Enugu State to establish a similar centre with the same production capacity.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at promoting industrialisation, reducing dependence on imports and preparing Nigerians for opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He also reaffirmed the Fund’s readiness to enter into public-private partnerships that will transform Nigeria’s artisanal ecosystem.
Ogun further noted that digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing, are rapidly transforming the global economy, making it imperative for Nigeria to deliberately invest in upskilling its workforce to remain globally competitive.
The ITF delegation was later conducted on a guided tour of facilities at one of the smart schools established by the Enugu State Government.
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