Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, welcomed U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Arun Venkataraman, and his team to his office on Wednesday, 17th July, to discuss U.S. companies investing in Nigeria’s ICT and startup sectors.
Dr. Tijani shared the news on his LinkedIn page, highlighting discussions that centred on increased U.S. investment opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), and data protection. The conversation also touched on U.S. President Biden’s Digital Transformation with Africa initiative, which aims to expand digital access and literacy and strengthen digital enabling environments across the continent.
A notable highlight of the meeting was the discussion on establishing the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco. This initiative is designed to support Nigerian businesses seeking to raise funding and build connections in and around Silicon Valley. Dr. Tijani expressed his enthusiasm for the support from the U.S. team in making this venture a reality.
“Our conversation explored increased investment from U.S. companies in our ICT and startup ecosystem, as well as opportunities around Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, and data interoperability & privacy,” Dr. Tijani said. “I’m particularly looking forward to their support as we set up the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco,” he added.
By Derrick Kafui Deti – Digital Economy Magazine
