By Prince Osuagwu & Juliet Umeh
President Bola Tinubu yesterday told Meta, the parent body of Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram to take the opportunity of different channels the Federal Government has opened to partner Nigeria and help it become Africa’s technology hub.
Tinubu, who received a delegation of the social media giant in Aso Rock, Abuja, told the team that his administration is sustaining investments in digital technology to enhance the sustainability of small businesses, expand opportunities across sectors, and propel Nigeria to become the hub of information and communications technology in Africa.
The delegation, led by Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs, agreed with the President that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in this age of technological advancements.
Clegg commended the president for an executive order he issued, which enabled the landing of the Meta-backed deep-sea cable in Nigeria.
Addressing the team, the president said: “We are serious with our 3MTT programme, which is training three million Nigerian youths in digital technology and essential skills before deploying them to innovation hubs across the nation, because the Nigerian youths are the most critical asset in Nigeria’s arsenal as it moves to achieve digital economic expansion.
“For us in Nigeria, we have a vibrant, gifted and resourceful youth population. Recognizing that the future is most likely to be AI-enabled, we have to prepare our youths and make them ready to compete and participate in the global economy.”