Nigeria Poised to Lead Africa’s Digital and Creative Revolution, EU Ambassador Declares

Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa’s digital and creative transformation, according to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, who made the assertion at the third edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit in Lagos.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, Ambassador Mignot said Nigeria’s youthful population, entrepreneurial drive, and rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem provide a solid foundation for digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

“The new economy, digital and creative, offers a fantastic opportunity,” he said, noting that young Nigerians are uniquely positioned to drive innovation because they belong to a generation that has grown up with digital tools and technologies.

The summit convened innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, investors, creatives, and development partners from across Africa and beyond to explore how technology, innovation, and collaboration can accelerate economic growth and create opportunities for young people.

Ambassador Mignot emphasized that the European Union and Nigeria have identified the digital and creative sectors as strategic priorities within their partnership framework, highlighting several initiatives aimed at supporting the country’s digital transformation agenda.

“In Nigeria, the EU supports the entire digital value chain, from governance to infrastructure, from skills to entrepreneurship,” he said.

Among the initiatives highlighted was a recently signed €45 million agreement between the European Union and Nigeria on digital development, support for the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure nationwide, contributions to Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure agenda, and backing for the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.

The ambassador also spotlighted the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria, co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by GIZ. The programme supports digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology adoption among young Nigerians and businesses.

He further cited the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, which connects young graduates with workplace opportunities and practical experience.

Also speaking at the summit, Annett Günther, Germany’s Ambassador to Nigeria, stressed the importance of collaboration in shaping the future.

“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.

Ambassador Günther described Nigeria as home to one of Africa’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems and noted that Nigerian entrepreneurs are increasingly influencing global trends in sectors such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, agribusiness, healthcare innovation, manufacturing, and the creative industries.

“Nigerian innovators are not simply adapting to global trends. They are shaping them,” she added.

Mignot noted that one of the key strengths of the Omniverse Africa Summit is its ability to bring together stakeholders from across the innovation landscape in a single space.

“Policymakers, founders, investors, creatives, researchers, development partners and business leaders are all here, all together,” he said.

“Because Nigeria’s digital future will not be built in silos. Technology, creative industries, finance, education, manufacturing, agriculture and public services are no longer separate worlds. They are converging.”

He said the summit provides a platform for transforming ideas into partnerships and conversations into practical solutions capable of driving inclusive and sustainable growth.

“The future is connected, but connection must be turned into impact,” Ambassador Mignot 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, entrepreneurship, green technology, future skills, research collaboration, and innovation financing, underscoring the growing role of partnerships in shaping Africa’s economic future.

The European Union partnered with Omniverse Africa as part of its broader commitment to supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and youth empowerment in Nigeria and across the continent.