Nigeria and Sweden are collaborating to develop information and communication technology that will be beneficial to the economy of both countries.
A meeting on Friday between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and a delegation of Swedish investors, led by the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Staffan Tillander, focused on ways to explore the partnership between the two countries towards achieving the digital economy.
This followed engagements between Nigerian officials and those of the Nordic country that were geared towards a mutually beneficial collaboration.
Tillander told State House correspondents that the meeting was fruitful and would strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
“We had a very fruitful discussion on digital issues relating to how the internet and modern technology innovations can help strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Sweden, between businesses, between universities and how this could benefit everybody.
“We have Swedish companies, Ericsson, Scania with us in this meeting.
“We had representatives from Swedfund, from the Swedish Spider, and from Ideon, which has been working with universities to establish parks where people can get help with innovation and incubation and develop businesses.
“We see how these can strengthen relations between these two countries.”
Asked how the partnership would increase job opportunities in Nigeria, Tillander said it would open up opportunities in the country.
“I think there are a lot of opportunities in this.
“If you have a functioning internet and if you have a functioning public transportation, that is functioning well and that will facilitate job creation and employment and that will make the economy grow.
“So, this is international trade, international exchange, businesses investments like Ericsson, Scania will help benefit the economies both of Nigeria and of Sweden.
“We see how Swedish companies are working with Nigerian partners and production in Nigeria is step-by-step growing thanks to this and partnership is expanding and growing, thanks to this.”
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the President on ICT, Office of the Vice President, Lanre Osibona, said that the collaboration led to the Sweden-Nigerian Innovation Day held in Lagos on December 4, 2018.
According to him, the collaboration would bring increase commercial trade relationship between the two countries.
Osibona said Sweden’s long history in technology and innovation would be brought to be bear on partnership and would boost the Buhari administration’s quest to make Nigeria ICT hub in Africa.
