The African Union Commission and the Government of Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Africa’s digital future following a high-level bilateral meeting between Lerato D. Mataboge and Bosun Tijani at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
The strategic engagement focused on deepening cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa and strengthen alignment around key continental frameworks designed to drive economic growth through technology and innovation.
During the discussions, both leaders emphasized the need to scale up investments in digital public infrastructure, harmonize data governance policies, and foster cross-border innovation ecosystems that support Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
They noted that stronger collaboration between national governments and continental institutions is essential to creating an integrated digital marketplace that enables businesses and citizens to thrive in an increasingly connected world.
A key area of focus was the role of digital connectivity in supporting the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The leaders highlighted that reliable digital infrastructure will be critical to facilitating seamless trade, expanding financial inclusion, improving service delivery, and enabling technology-driven entrepreneurship across African markets.
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The meeting also underscored the importance of creating regulatory environments that encourage innovation while supporting commercial scalability. Both parties agreed that Africa’s growing population of digitally skilled young people represents one of the continent’s greatest assets and that targeted investments in technology, skills development, and innovation ecosystems are needed to unlock this potential.
Commissioner Mataboge and Minister Tijani stressed that while significant progress has been made in developing digital policies and frameworks across the continent, the next phase of Africa’s digital transformation must focus on implementation and execution. They called for stronger collaboration among governments, private sector players, development partners, and technology innovators to accelerate digital adoption and build sustainable digital economies.
The engagement reflects a broader commitment by the African Union and Nigeria to position Africa as a competitive participant in the global digital economy by leveraging technology, innovation, and regional cooperation to drive inclusive growth and long-term development.
