Nigeria’s digital sector draws $191m in Q1 – Bosun Tijani
…$2bn fibre project set for Q4
By Kunle Sanni
Nigeria’s digital economy recorded a sharp rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2024, growing from $22 million in Q1 2023 to $191 million, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
In an interview for a forthcoming State House documentary marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office, Dr. Tijani attributed the growth to foundational reforms and efforts to position Nigeria as a global digital hub.
He disclosed that a key initiative, Project Bridge—a $2 billion plan to deploy 90,000km of fibre optic cable across the country—will kick off in the fourth quarter of 2025 to expand affordable internet access.
“This investment will make high-quality, affordable internet accessible to all Nigerians. A 10% increase in connectivity hubs can translate to a 2.5% GDP growth,” Tijani said.
He also highlighted the success of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, launched in October 2023, noting that over 117,000 Nigerians have been trained in digital skills, far exceeding the initial goal of 30,000.
“With 35,000 more currently in training, we’re approaching 10% of our 3 million target. This programme is laying the foundation for a tech-driven economy,” the minister added.
Tijani further noted Nigeria’s progress in artificial intelligence, including its recent entry into the top 60 countries in AI readiness and the launch of a homegrown large language model and the AI Collective platform.
Key partners in Nigeria’s AI drive include global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar.
