Fact Sheet on global opportunities in Nigeria’s technology hub as Osinbajo leads US roadshow on investment

By Nwakaego Alajemba

Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is today rounding up a public-private sector collaborative investment roadshow to the United States, where he has been engaging with global industry leaders in information technology and entertainment at the Silicon Valley in San Francisco and Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, since Monday, July 9.

As part of his engagements with technology leaders, Osinbajo was at the Googleplex and had extensive discussions with CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai and other executives of the Internet giant on exploring further opportunities in Nigeria’s steadily evolving digital economy. Google has presence in Nigeria and has a portfolio of programmes targeting young people and tech skill development.

Osinbajo also had Fireside talks with Co-Founder of LinkedIn, Allen Blue, where “I described the role the role of the recently inaugurated Technology and Creativity Advisory Group to drive policy in tech innovation and entertainment,” to quote his Twitter post.

In recognition of the central role of innovation and technology in government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan, Osinbajo assured global stakeholders at the Invest In Nigeria summit, designed as part of roadshow, of government’s commitment to supporting the growth of technology and creative industries in the country through its policies and reforms.

Highlights of the growth of technology, creative industry in Nigeria

• Lagos is one of Africa’s largest markets, with GDP of over $136 billion and significant young population
• Lagos startups are also building to serve the entire African market, with high quality and relatively lower cost talent
• Startups like Andela, NESA, and Data Science Nigeria are training developers and Data Scientists
• Strong ccal hub space in Lagos
• GE operates a Gy”>Several startups leveraging alternative data sources and data science toy and increasing access to healthcare for the mass market e.g. Lifebank, which raised over $80 million from several investors including Chan Zuckerberg initiative.