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By Oluwatobi Opusunju
Chinese telecoms giant, Huawei, has launched a $6 million innovation and experience center in Lagos to facilitate ICT innovations and training amongst Nigeria’s teeming youths. The centre will help to nurture IT talents and skills to maturity in an industry where dearth of skilled manpower has remained acute.
Minister of Communciations, Barr. Adebayo Shittu said the government was leveraging the benefits of the digital revolution with strategic partnership with Huawei as a leading global supplier of ICT products, solutions and services at the formal opening of the centre at the weekend in Lagos.
“This is an epoch making event for a number of reasons, but most importantly is the fact that the present government is easily the first government to come on stage leveraging the benefits of the digital revolution with strategic partnerships with Huawei as a leading global supplier of ICT products, solutions and services.
Therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to express my appreciation on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to Huawei Technologies for partnering with the Ministry in the area of human and institutional capacity development,” said Shittu.
The Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Company for Nigeria, Mr. Frank Li in his words said the company “will continue to invest and channel resources into the Nigerian ICT ecosystem and in other African countries to spark innovations in order to drive digital economy.
“Huawei is dedicated to investment of industry innovation driven by both customer needs and new technologies. Huawei will continuously adhere to its strategic focus, investment, and the relentless pursuit of a strategic breakthrough to face all challenges together with its partners.”
The Chinese Consular General in Lagos, Mr. Chao Xiaoliangalso in his speech commended the effort of Huawei in sharing their experience in ICT innovation in Nigeria to boost social and economic development.
“I would like to congratulate Huawei on the successful commissioning of the Innovation and Experience Centre. Chinese companies, such as Huawei, are willing to share their experience in ICT innovation in order to boost the social and economic development of Nigeria. I wish China and Nigeria a long-lasting relationship and prosperous future,” said Xiaoliang.
