The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government has reiterated its commitment to harnessing technology and international partnerships to drive inclusive economic growth. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, made the reaffirmation on Monday, October 20, during his keynote address at the 2025 edition of the Nordic Nigeria Connect (NNC) held in Lagos with the theme: “Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact”.
He described Nordic countries as strategic allies in Nigeria’s journey towards a digital and sustainable future. Tijani said the Tinubu-led administration’s vision of shared prosperity aligned strongly with the Nordic model of innovation, empathy, trust, and values, which he said are essential to building context-driven partnerships capable of transforming lives.
The Minister disclosed that Nigeria is investing in over 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic network to extend affordable broadband across the country, while expanding telecommunication towers to connect about 20 million unserved Nigerians.
He added that the government is accelerating the deployment of satellites for national use and driving the Three Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) to position Nigeria as a global hub for skilled digital professionals.
“Our president’s mandate is to create shared prosperity. We are leveraging digital technology to deliver that vision, ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of where they live, has access to meaningful and affordable connectivity.”
Speaking further, Dr Tijani stated that the federal government through his ministry is implementing the national digital public infrastructure framework to unify government services and improve citizens’ access to essential needs through technology.
Highlighting the Nordic partnerships, the minister announced new collaborations with Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to support Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure, satellite development, and artificial intelligence initiatives.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in his remarks, said the state is ready to become Africa’s launchpad for Nordic innovation. Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Samuel Egube, the governor added that Lagos is moving from “invitation to implementation” as partnerships with Nordic economies begin to yield tangible results.
Governor Sanwo-Olu called for the establishment of a Lagos–Nordic Innovation Corridor, which he said will create a permanent framework to connect public institutions, research centres, and private-sector partners for technology exchange and investment.
“Lagos is ready to be the African launchpad for Nordic innovation — a city where sustainable technologies are tested, refined, and scaled to reach millions. Let this year mark the transition from conversation to co-creation, from joint forums to joint facilities, from planning to scaling,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
He further stated the state was already implementing policies in clean energy, electric mobility, agriculture, and digital health, which aligned with the Nordic countries’ focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusion.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, urged participants to focus on practical, measurable outcomes rather than endless policy discussions. He called for stronger support for commercial agriculture and technology collaboration across Nigeria’s regions to drive inclusive growth, stressing that Enugu is set to become the Southeast digital hub with its COAL CODE.
Earlier in her welcome remark, Denmark’s State Secretary for Trade and Investment, Lina Gandlose Hansen, said the Nordic countries were deepening long-term partnerships with Nigeria, describing it as “a beacon of democracy, stability, and growth” in Africa.
She said that Denmark’s new Africa Strategy themed Africa’s Century, aimed to build equal partnerships and drive investments in areas such as digitalisation, food security, and maritime logistics, stressing that Danish companies are already exploring opportunities in these sectors, as Nigeria’s market potential makes it a crucial partner.
Describing the one‑day forum which brought together high‑level government officials, business leaders, innovation enablers and investors from the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden) and Nigeria to chart a collaborative agenda across digital transformation, green energy, food and agriculture, and health innovation, Finland’s Deputy Minister for International Trade, Jarno Syrjälä, said the forum is “more than a business event” but “a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation” between the Nordic region and Nigeria.
He identified four key sectors for his country’s commitment: digital transformation, health innovation, agriculture and food security, and the green energy transition. Syrjälä noted that the Nordic values of transparency, equality, and environmental responsibility align closely with Nigeria’s development priorities.
“Together, we can co-create solutions that are commercially viable and socially and environmentally impactful,” Syrjälä said.
Speaking during a panel session, Norway Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, noted that renewable energy, maritime collaboration, and seafood production present key growth areas for Nigeria–Norway trade.
Also, the Deputy Director-General and Director for Africa, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Johan Frisell, said the Nordic collaboration seeks to promote inclusive green and digital transformation, adding that the region’s experience in sustainable innovation complements Nigeria’s youthful, technology-driven population.