Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, says there is potential for the creation of thousands of jobs through innovative initiatives, such as a certified installer/maintenance program for Starlink.
The minister discussed this during a meeting with Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Global Licensing and Activation at SpaceX. The two met on the sidelines of the ongoing International Telecommunication Union-World Radio Communication Conference in Dubai.
Dr. Tijani stated that Nigeria has become Starlink’s largest market in Africa, highlighting the country’s growing demand for the service. The discussion centred around connecting unserved and underserved Nigerians, exploring avenues for job creation, and enhancing the local tech ecosystem.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Dr. Tijani stated, “as demand for Starlink continues to grow in Nigeria, we spoke about the issue of connecting unserved and underserved Nigerians. I also mentioned the possibility of creating thousands of new jobs in Nigeria through initiatives like a certified installer/maintenance programme for Starlink and working with hardware startups to produce repeater boxes locally.” He also mentioned that his intention is to encourage every tech company to invest and deepen Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, Starlink, which officially launched in Nigeria in January 2023, currently boasts 6,756 wireless Internet subscribers in the country. Nigeria holds the distinction of being Starlink’s first operational Africa country and the 47th globally, reflecting its increasing importance in the global tech landscape and signalling potential opportunities for local job creation and technology advancement.
