The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has said Nigeria is uniquely positioned to lead Africa’s digital and creative transformation, citing the country’s youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit and expanding innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the opening of the third edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit in Lagos, Mignot described Nigeria as a key driver of the continent’s digital future, noting that the country’s young people have a significant advantage in an increasingly technology-driven world.
“The new economy, digital and creative, offers a fantastic opportunity,” he said, adding that Nigerian youths are well placed to spearhead innovation because they have grown up in a digital age.
The summit brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers, investors, researchers, creatives and development partners from across Africa and beyond to discuss how technology and collaboration can boost economic growth and create opportunities for young people.
Mignot said the European Union and Nigeria have made the digital and creative sectors a strategic pillar of their partnership, with several initiatives already underway to support the country’s digital transformation agenda.
According to him, the EU currently supports Nigeria’s entire digital value chain, including governance, infrastructure development, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
Among the key initiatives highlighted by the ambassador is a recently signed €45 million digital development agreement between the EU and Nigeria. He also pointed to support for the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, contributions to Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure programme and backing for the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
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Mignot further referenced programmes designed to strengthen entrepreneurship and digital skills, including the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria, co-funded by the EU and the German Government and implemented by GIZ. The programme supports innovation, technology adoption and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians and businesses.
He also highlighted the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government. The initiative helps young graduates gain workplace experience and improve their employability.
Also speaking at the summit, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, stressed the importance of collaboration in building the future economy.
“The future will not be built in silos. It will be built through cooperation across sectors, institutions and borders. The future will be connected,” she said.
Günther described Nigeria as one of Africa’s most vibrant innovation hubs, noting that Nigerian entrepreneurs are increasingly influencing global developments in sectors such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and the creative industry.
“Nigerian innovators are not simply adapting to global trends. They are shaping them,” she said.
Mignot noted that one of the strengths of the Omniverse Africa Summit is its ability to bring together stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem, including policymakers, founders, investors, creatives, researchers and business leaders.
He said the convergence of technology, finance, education, agriculture, manufacturing and creative industries presents new opportunities for sustainable growth and development.
“The future is connected, but connection must be turned into impact,” he said.
“Let us connect innovators with investors, policy with practice, creativity with technology, and Nigerian talent with global opportunities.”
The summit featured discussions on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green technology, entrepreneurship, future skills, innovation financing and research collaboration, underscoring the growing importance of partnerships in shaping Africa’s economic future.
The European Union partnered with Omniverse Africa for the event as part of its broader commitment to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and youth empowerment across Nigeria and the continent.
