Monday, July 7, 2025
23.7 C
Lagos

Pantami Meets with Space X, World Bank, Google to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Economy

The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Nigeria, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, had meetings at Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (Space X) headquarters in Hawthorne, California, as well as a meeting at the World Bank Headquarters and another meeting with Google Corporation in a bid to strengthen partnerships for the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.

The meetings with the World Bank and Google were held on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders’ Forum (USALF), which took place in Washington DC, United States of America, while the visit to Space X was a follow up to the events at the USALF.

Pantami was received at Space X by Samuel (Chad) Gibbs IV, the Vice President of Business Operations, on behalf of Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of Space X. At the visit, both parties discussed how Space X can expand its presence in Nigeria, following their entry into the Nigerian market through the Starlink broadband service.

The Honourable Minister also asked the Space X team to consider sourcing some of its engineers from Nigeria’s digital talent pool.  During the visit, the Honourable Minister and his team were given a personalised tour of the SpaceX Rocket Manufacturing Facility, Starlink Assembly Line, and Product Development Facility.  He also witnessed the live Space X rocket launch of 2 telecom satellites into orbit.

On the invitation of the World Bank Group, the Honourable Minister had a meeting with top officials of the Bank, including Vyjayanti Desai, the Practice Manager for the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) and Digitizing Government to Person Payments (G2Px) Programs.  Also at the meeting were Franz Drees-Gross, Director of Infrastructure, World Bank West African Region and Michel Rogy, World Bank’s Digital Development Practice Manager for Africa and the Middle East.  The World Bank team commended the Minister for his great leadership, which has led to significant development in Nigeria’s digital economy sector. The meeting also discussed how the Bank can further partner with Nigeria to strengthen the digital economy ecosystem in areas such as infrastructure, skilling, cybersecurity, and digital identity.

Pantami also had a meeting with Karan Bhatia, Vice-President, Government Affairs, and Public Policy at Google.  Mr. Bhatia was full of praise for the Honourable Minister for the significant progress that has been made in the digital transformation of the Nigerian economy.

He also commended the Minister for Nigeria Startup Act, noting the potential of the legislation to serve as a catalyst for rapid development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

The Google Vice-President discussed the company’s growing focus on Africa and looks forward to expanding partnerships with Nigeria in areas such as skilling, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, among others.

The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, under Professor Pantami’s leadership, remains committed to implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in order to ensure that Nigeria’s digital economy remains a leading light, both in Africa and across the globe.

 

spot_img
spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

MTN, 9mobile Ink National Infrastructure Partnership Deal

L-R: Abolaji Idowu, Chief Financial Officer, 9mobile; Omotola Ojutayo,...

Stanbic IBTC Holding’s N148bn Rights Issue Oversubscribed by 21.9%, Injects N140bn into Stanbic IBTC Bank

Acting Group CE Statement Commenting on the just concluded rights...

NAICOM Hands over New Licences to SanlamAllianz Life, General Insurance

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) today handed over new...

Access Bank Highlights Leadership at Climate Governance Initiative Launch

Access Bank Plc has once again demonstrated its leadership...

Fidelity Bank Extends Relief Efforts to Eti-Osa Community with Food Bank Initiative

Henry Asiegbu, Divisional Head, Operations, Fidelity Bank Plc (Left);...

Topics

Fidelity Bank Gets Highest Corporate Governance Rating on Stock Market

Fidelity Bank Plc complies with the highest corporate governance...

SEC, IFSB to Host 1st International Forum on Non-Interest Capital Markets

  In a bid to tackle the challenges hampering further...

Shoprite Nigeria Closes Kano Store, Announces 2-5 Year Bullish Growth for Nigeria 

Retail Supermarket Nigeria Limited (RSNL), operating as Shoprite Nigeria...

Almond Set for Insurance Forum, Industry Nite

Almond Productions Limited, promoters of the Annual Insurance Consumers’...

WIMBIZ Co-Founder Charges Olashore School Graduates on Excellence

The Co-Founder of Women in Business, Management, and Public...

Stanbic IBTC: More Winners Emerge in Reward4Saving Promo

Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC...

Osinbajo to Open 2018 National Insurance Conference July 9

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria is...

Bitcoin Excites Africa’s Youth

Seeing a significant growth in digital currency transactions on...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img