Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell led the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Technology Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on January 10, hosting a senior delegation from the Nigerian government led by the Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani.
This event built on the momentum of Deputy Secretary Campbell's visit to Abuja for the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) co-hosted with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar on April 29-30, 2024, the U.S. Department of State and Government of Nigeria-funded "Global Inclusivity and Artificial Intelligence (AI)" event held in Lagos on September 9-11, 2024, and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) AI event hosted by the U.S. Department of State on September 23, 2024, in which Nigerian Minister Tijani participated.
The U.S.-Nigeria Technology Dialogue is designed to enhance bilateral cooperation in critical technology sectors, seize opportunities in technology and innovation, and strengthen interagency collaboration and stakeholder engagement in both countries. These objectives advance the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) initiative, by facilitating a more conducive investment environment for digital transformation, promoting digital infrastructure and connectivity, and supporting digital skills development and talent cultivation.
Kicking off the Technology Dialogue, the United States and Nigeria signed a new $2,095,000 grant to assess the viability of the deployment of at least 90,000 km of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria. The project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, supports Nigeria's National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 with the goal to increase the country's broadband penetration rate from 42.27 percent to 70 percent and to ensure that at least 90 percent of Nigeria's population has access to affordable and reliable broadband coverage.
During the Technology Dialogue, the parties discussed enhancing the resilience and security of essential services and facilities; promoting digital trade, e-commerce, and innovation-driven economic growth; developing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of the digital age; expanding our artificial intelligence partnership related to capacity building, infrastructure, and rights-respecting approaches to governance; and promoting information integrity.
Following the formal Technology Dialogue, the delegations joined a roundtable discussion with industry representatives hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Industry participants included representatives from over 25 U.S. and Nigerian companies active in technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, satellites, aerospace, fintech, and cybersecurity. The program featured a panel discussion on Advancing Public-Private Sector Investment in Innovation and Digital Talent Development. This panel highlighted opportunities for public-private partnership and investment solutions to spur innovation and promote digital talent development through the U.S.-Nigeria commercial partnership. A second panel discussion on the role of critical infrastructure in advancing the use of AI examined the interplay between the infrastructure that is essential to the development of AI and the governance frameworks that can help spur deployment of emerging technologies to support inclusive growth.
In line with the Technology Dialogue, the United States and Nigeria agreed to hold a virtual expert exchange on AI-enabled biotechnology. This discussion will explore how the convergence of AI and biotechnology can spur progress in addressing global health, food security, and science - with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.
