By Paschal Madu
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, has said Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa’s digital and creative transformation, citing the country’s youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit and expanding innovation ecosystem.
Mignot made the assertion at the opening of the third edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit held in Lagos, where stakeholders from across Africa and beyond gathered to explore the role of technology, innovation and collaboration in driving economic growth and creating opportunities for young people.
According to the ambassador, Nigeria’s young population is uniquely equipped to drive innovation because it belongs to a generation that has grown up with digital technologies and tools.
“The new economy, digital and creative, offers a fantastic opportunity,” Mignot said, emphasizing that innovation and technology are becoming key drivers of economic development across the continent.
He noted that the European Union and Nigeria have identified the digital and creative sectors as strategic priorities within their partnership framework and highlighted 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.
Mignot disclosed that the European Union recently signed a €45 million digital development agreement with Nigeria and is supporting the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the country. He also highlighted EU support for Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure agenda and the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
The ambassador further pointed to the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria, a programme co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by GIZ, which promotes digital innovation, entrepreneurship and technology adoption among young Nigerians and businesses.
He also referenced 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, as a key initiative connecting young graduates with workplace opportunities and practical experience.
Also speaking at the summit, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, described Nigeria as home to one of Africa’s most vibrant innovation ecosystems.
“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 noted that Nigerian entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping global trends in sectors such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, agribusiness, healthcare innovation, manufacturing and the creative industry.
“Nigerian innovators are not simply adapting to global trends. They are shaping them,” she added.
Mignot said one of the strengths of the Omniverse Africa Summit is its ability to convene policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, researchers, development partners and business leaders in one platform.
According to him, technology, finance, education, manufacturing, agriculture, public services and the creative industries are increasingly interconnected, making collaboration essential for sustainable growth.
He urged stakeholders to transform discussions into practical partnerships capable of delivering inclusive development and economic opportunities.
“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, entrepreneurship, green technology, future skills, research collaboration and innovation financing, underscoring the growing importance 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 development across Nigeria and the African continent.