Tech Titans: Nigeria’s Ambition to Outdo India in Tech Talent Exports According to Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani
Nigeria possesses all the necessary elements to soon become an exporter of technology talent akin to India, according to the Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
During a live programme on Channels Television on Monday, the Minister underscored that a key initiative under his ministry aims to create employment opportunities for the vast number of young Nigerians.
The initiative sets a goal to train three million technical professionals within four years, ultimately positioning Nigeria as a leading exporter of technology expertise, similar to India.
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“We want to make Nigeria a net exporter of technology talents, and by net exporter, we don’t mean that people necessarily live abroad because, within the technology space, you can now work remotely,” Tijani explained.
He continued, “I have been part of the tech space for the last 15 years as well. The current development in the tech startup space is being driven by less than 10,000 technical talents. The almighty Andela, a well-known startup that provides training, does not train up to 10,000 people in Nigeria, yet they have been quite successful in helping to strengthen that ecosystem.
“So, if where we are today is being built by less than 10,000, imagine when we train talents. Talent is the prerequisite for our digital economy. When we train people, they can build, and we can export. India did it; it is nothing new. India was the source of technology talents for many years; it is our time because we have everything it takes to get there.”
The Minister emphasized the significance of academic institutions engaging in research, highlighting the government’s substantial investment in this area.
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Tijani revealed that within the initial three months of taking office, the ministry introduced a research funding program that has supported 45 Artificial Intelligence projects.
He further stressed the critical need for funding in AI projects due to the rapid advancement of this technology, warning that a government’s readiness would be questioned if not prepared within the next 12 to 15 months.
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