Nigeria set to lead Africa’s digital, creative economy, EU ambassador

Nigeria is strategically positioned to spearhead Africa's digital and creative economy, according to Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS. Mignot highlighted the nation's vibrant youth population, strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a burgeoning innovation ecosystem as crucial elements driving this potential growth.

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The new economy, digital and creative, offers a fantastic opportunity.

Speaking at the Omniverse Africa Summit in Lagos, Mignot emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration among government, business, and development sectors. He asserted that the digital and creative economy represents a significant avenue for Nigeria to diversify its economic base, generate employment, and foster inclusive development. Young Nigerians, having grown up with digital technologies, are uniquely equipped to lead innovation and develop globally relevant solutions.

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In Nigeria, the EU supports the entire digital value chain, from governance to infrastructure, from skills to entrepreneurship.

The European Union has identified these sectors as key priorities in its partnership with Nigeria, backing the entire digital value chain. This includes a recent €45 million agreement for digital development and support for extensive fiber-optic infrastructure rollout. The EU also contributes to Nigeria's digital public infrastructure agenda and supports the "Three Million Technical Talent" initiative, designed to equip young Nigerians with competitive digital skills. Furthermore, programs like the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria and the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme aim to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability among the youth.

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Nigeria’s digital future will not be built in silos. Technology, creative industries, finance, education, manufacturing, agriculture and public services are no longer separate wo