Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF), he said that in a global economy projected to grow by just 3.1 percent, the Middle East and Africa face both a challenge and an opportunity.

Outperforming global peers will depend on building infrastructure that drives productivity at scale and delivers value across the region.

Speaking at Semafor’s Next 3 Billion event at Davos, Agboola elaborated on how Flutterwave is addressing this need. He highlighted the urgency of reducing friction in financial transactions and enabling seamless access to reliable data, positioning these rails as critical enablers for the region’s full participation in the global economy.

“Stablecoins and open banking are not abstract ideas; they are practical tools acting as the operating system for productivity at scale,” Agboola said.

He positioned Flutterwave’s recent acquisition of Mono, a leading open banking platform, as a foundational data layer for this new operating system.

By enabling secure, interoperable access to financial data, open banking allows lenders to make better decisions and businesses to build more tailored products.

Complementing this is an additional and faster movement of value. Agboola highlighted Flutterwave’s stablecoin infrastructure as key to transforming cross-border trade, noting its ability to slash settlement times from days to minutes.

“When settlement is instant and data is interoperable, innovation follows. That is how you move from exclusion to opportunity for the next three billion people,” Agboola added.

Agboola’s engagement at Davos aligns with Flutterwave’s broader focus on technical excellence as a driver of long-term economic output.

By investing in modern rails that cut settlement times and verify identity instantly, Flutterwave empowers enterprise merchants and small businesses, the backbone of Africa’s economy, to operate faster and more efficiently.

This creates new opportunities for businesses, individuals, and partners, ensuring the entire region can harness the benefits of these new economic realities and be fully integrated into the global economy.

The post Flutterwave CEO: Stablecoins, Open Banking Will Power MEA’s Next Decade of Growth appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The collaboration was formalized during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, marking a significant step in deepening international cooperation to shape the future of frontier technologies.

Established with a clear mandate to lead breakthroughs in frontier research and development, advance global policy on emerging technologies, and foster international collaboration that moves innovation from the lab into real-world deployment, the Centre builds on the UAE’s position as a real-world testbed for innovation.

Supported by an agile regulatory environment and a strong link between research, policy and execution, the UAE offers a unique platform for piloting, deploying and scaling emerging technologies at national level – a capability that will now be amplified through the World Economic Forum’s globally connected C4IR network.

The new Centre positions Abu Dhabi as a global epicenter for pioneering research of advanced technologies, with a focus on Quantum Computing, Robotics, Propulsion & Space systems, and related AI applications.

Through this strategic partnership, TII joins a globally connected innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate the responsible adoption of transformative technologies.

Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said:

“As frontier technologies accelerate, there is a growing imperative and opportunity to guide their responsible and impactful adoption. This Centre brings together research excellence, policy leadership and global collaboration in one platform – pushing the boundaries of frontier R&D while enabling breakthrough science to move beyond the lab into real-world application. By translating innovation into responsibly governed, scalable solutions, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for science, innovation and impact.”

With this announcement, Abu Dhabi strengthens the UAE’s presence within the World Economic Forum’s global C4IR network, joining a distinguished group of Centres across countries such as the US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and India.

The addition of Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies strengthens the C4IR Global Network’s ability to shape global technology agenda” said Jeremy Jurgens, managing director, World Economic Forum. “By bringing world-class research capabilities into the Network, this Centre will support industries in translating innovation into practical, responsible solutions that advance inclusion, sustainability and trust in technology.”

The Centre aims to push the boundaries of research and development in critical frontier technologies, while showcasing Abu Dhabi’s thought leadership through proof-of-concept pilots, regulatory sandboxes, and global convenings.

It will serve as both an innovation engine and a strategic platform, advancing responsible technology adoption and reinforcing the UAE’s global standing in science and innovation.

The post Davos: TII Unveils Abu Dhabi as New Centre for Quantum, Robotics, Space and AI appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

“We live in a world in which you can talk about international niceties and everything else,” deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told my colleague Jake Tapper recently. “But we live in a world, the real world … that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power,” he continued. “These are the iron laws of the world.”

From Caracas, Copenhagen, and Kiev, to Brussels, Bogota, Jerusalem, and Johannesburg, via Tehran, Ottawa, Mexico City, and beyond, this second ‘America First’ term is redefining the boundaries of American power and how it might be exercised.

“There is one thing: my own morality, my own mind.  It’s the only thing that can stop me,” Trump told the New York Times last week. “I don’t need international law.” Based on his administration’s recent actions, from the audacious capture of Nicolás Maduro to renewed threats to take Greenland by whatever means necessary, few believe he is not serious.

Eight years ago, Donald Trump strode into the Congress Hall at Davos to unbecoming gushes and gawps from delegates overcome by his celebrity, craning their necks for a glimpse of him.

This was an exclusive club of which he was never part, and one which would never previously have dreamed of welcoming him in such a way.  Now he was the center of attention, and he clearly reveled in it.

Back then, the WEF rolled out the red carpet more in hope than expectation, and Trump just about concealed his disdain for its elitist, intellectual trappings.

America was “open for business”, he told them. Yes, it would still be America First, but “not America alone.”  On the surface it was a surprisingly inclusive message.

Oh, how things have changed. Exactly how to welcome this most unpredictable of house guests into the halls of the WEF’s globalist cathedral now is anyone’s guess.

Davos is the very embodiment of “international niceties”. The foundations upon which it is built – a vision of dialogue and stakeholder capitalism and a ‘commitment to improving the state of the world’ – are shaking like never before.

As if that wasn’t enough, the WEF itself is already creaking under pressure of its own making.  Klaus Schwab, its founder and executive chairman, departed last year amid allegations of misconduct raised by anonymous whistleblowers.

An internal investigation found no evidence of material wrongdoing, but the episode was an embarrassing one for an organization facing persistent questions over its relevance.

The WEF maintains that Davos offers a unique opportunity for decision makers from multiple perspectives to collaborate, and to some extent that is true; but in the current climate the idea that it can also effect change seems absurdly unrealistic, especially when faced with a guest of honour who could easily come to dinner to unapologetically smash the crockery and pocket the silverware on his way out.

All of this begs an obvious question: if Davos is truly irrelevant, then why is Trump bothering to head up into the Swiss Alps at all?

Based on his last visit, there is no doubt that he will get attention, and any longtime observer will tell you that alone can be incentive enough for Mr. Trump.

He could simply take the opportunity to rub delegates noses in their impotence, expand the ‘Donroe doctrine’, and remind everyone that if they want a deal, they must get it on his terms – or else.

But there is also some evidence to suggest that America should be courting some of the still-powerful power brokers padding around the deep pile carpets of the Davos Congress Centre.

Ken Fisher, founder and executive chair of Fisher Investments, reminded me last week that 2025 was a better year for business outside of America than in it, while the three years prior were better for those in the United States.

“This is a world where the world’s doing business around America, and sometimes in America,” he told me.  “But the rest of the world is what’s leading the capital markets, not the United States.”

Trump is also facing hardening political realities at home.  Every U.S. president looks to the Midterms with a sense of dread, and Trump’s approval ratings are languishing behind his bluster.

Cracks are also beginning to appear in his once rock-solid MAGA Republican coalition, partly over issues such as the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, but also because of a stubborn affordability crisis and bewilderment in some quarters over recent foreign policy adventures.

He is also now in open warfare with a Fed that suddenly appears happy to fight him head-on.

Whisper it, but Trump may need friends in the international community more than he’d care to admit.  If the president is not to discover far more straightforward limits to his power than his own mind come November’s elections, he will need some economic wins that tariffs and saber-rattling are unlikely to deliver.

Of course, he is not above coercion to get a deal done, and as we have seen this month, he is willing to back those words – at least on occasion, with decisive and controversial action.

Whatever happens, Trump’s approach to Davos next week will be fascinating to observe. Most significantly, it could provide a clear vision of a new kind of Trumpian Pax Americana, at least until that changes again.

It would also be deeply ironic if this most anti-globalist president provides a shot in the arm for one of globalism’s most famous – and infamous – institutions.

This oddest of couples might actually be made for one another.

Follow Richard Quest and CNN’s coverage of Davos on CNN International and CNN.com

The post As Trump Turns the World on its Head, Davos Braces for Impact appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

It is reshaping industries, redefining professions, and creating new career pathways that were unimaginable a generation ago.

Conversations about “what I want to be one day” are no longer limited to familiar paths like teaching, medicine, or law.

For today’s young people, the careers they will one day pursue may not even exist yet, as entire industries continue to emerge around AI and other disruptive technologies.

While traditional professions such as medicine, law, and accounting will remain important, they are already being transformed by automation and digital augmentation.

In Africa, the impact is particularly significant: the question is whether AI will drive inclusive growth or deepen inequality.

The inevitability of disruption

AI is already automating routine tasks and lowering barriers to participation in the economy. In law, contract reviews that once took days are now completed by AI tools in minutes.

In healthcare, South Africa’s Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre has pioneered robotic systems to conduct vascular surgeries remotely.

These technologies do not replace professionals; instead, they augment expertise, streamline workflows, and enable higher-value work.

This disruption extends across sectors. Sama, a data-labelling company employing more than 3,000 people in East Africa, provides training data for global technology leaders such as Google and Meta.

Synthesia enables lifelike AI-generated video content without the need for cameras or studios. Conversational AI, from chatbots to virtual agents, is creating new categories of employment and redefining how businesses interact with customers.

Globally, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 92 million jobs could be displaced by automation, while 170 million new roles could be created, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs, equivalent to 14% of today’s global employment.

The challenge lies in managing this transition equitably and preparing workforces for a fundamentally reshaped labour market.

Unique African context for AI

In Africa, where informal employment dominates, the effects of AI will be distinct. Informal work is less directly exposed to automation, but the continent stands to gain from remote digital work outsourced by mature economies.

Global demand for cost-effective, skilled digital labour could create new opportunities for African workers if infrastructure, skills, and investment align.

Large-scale investments from global technology companies underscore this potential. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has invested more than US$860 million in South Africa, with plans to increase this to US$1.7 billion by 2029.

AWS employs around 5,700 people in Cape Town across roles ranging from customer support to software development, and its operations are expected to contribute US$3.8 billion to South Africa’s GDP by the end of the decade. This demonstrates how Africa can meaningfully integrate into the global digital economy.

Entrepreneurs also have a critical role to play. With improved access to funding and markets, African startups are uniquely positioned to develop solutions tailored to local challenges.

These solutions, often scalable and resilient by design, can create new industries while addressing persistent challenges with healthcare, education, and financial inclusion.

Africa’s greatest demographic asset is its youth. Sub-Saharan Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% under the age of 30.

By 2030, young Africans will make up more than 40% of the global youth population. This represents both a challenge and an unparalleled opportunity.

Persistent youth unemployment highlights a mismatch between education systems and future workforce demands.

Most young Africans are employed in the informal sector, where opportunities for growth and mobility are limited.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum predicts that 60% of the global workforce will need reskilling by 2030, driven by technological and structural changes.

Unless Africa’s education and training systems are restructured to align with future needs, the continent risks squandering its demographic dividend.

Investments in digital literacy, coding, data science, and entrepreneurship are urgently needed to bridge this gap.

With the right interventions, Africa’s youth could become the driving force of a technology-powered economy, positioning the continent as both an innovator and a key contributor to the global workforce.

Building tomorrow’s AI-ready workforce

Evidence of AI’s impact on employment is already visible in Africa’s most vital sectors: food, health, and digital services.

Farmers are using AI-enabled tools to improve crop yields. Nurses in rural areas are employing portable AI diagnostics to expand healthcare access.

Youth are entering the digital economy through data labelling, content moderation, and remote support roles. These footholds could grow into large-scale employment sectors with the right investment.

The skills required to thrive in this new environment go beyond traditional qualifications. Data literacy, digital fluency, and ethical awareness of AI will be essential.

Yet, research suggests the continent is underprepared. SAP Africa’s AI Skills Readiness Revealed report found that fewer than 20% of African organisations are ready for the AI era, with acute shortages in machine learning, data science, and AI ethics. This highlights the urgency of coordinated action between governments, academia, and industry.

National strategies should embed digital and AI skills throughout education systems, from primary school to higher education and continuous professional development.

Agile, inclusive systems will ensure citizens are equipped not only to adapt, but to lead in an AI-powered world.

Continental frameworks are emerging, such as the African Union’s AI Strategy and Smart Africa’s AI Blueprint.

These provide a foundation, but their impact will depend on coordinated implementation and continent-wide collaboration. Success will require moving beyond vision statements to actionable strategies that prioritise inclusivity and sustainability.

AI is not just another wave of technology. It represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the future of work in Africa.

With its youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit, and growing digital infrastructure, the continent is well-positioned to turn disruption into opportunity. But doing so will require urgency, investment, and collective commitment.

If Africa acts decisively, it can shape an AI-powered future that is inclusive, innovative, and globally competitive. If it does not, the risk is that inequality will deepen, and opportunities will be lost. The choice is clear, and the time to act is now.

The post AI and the Future of Work in Africa appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Group and a pioneer in Africa’s tech ecosystem, stands as a testament to this transformative power.

For over three decades, Dr. Ekeh has not merely participated in Nigeria’s tech evolution; he has consistently been several steps ahead, anticipating shifts that few could even envision.

Dr. Ekeh’s latest ambitious vision focuses on producing over 10,000 female tech professionals within the next five years, positioning Zinox Group to nurture one of Africa’s largest pools of tech talent. This isn’t merely aspirational rhetoric.

The Group has demonstrated remarkable progress through its subsidiary TD Africa, which has systematically developed more certified tech professionals in sub-Saharan Africa than any other organization, primarily through strategic partnerships with globally recognized Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as HP, IBM, Dell, and Cisco.

TD Africa is led by Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, the wife of Dr. Ekeh and an accomplished business leader in her own right.

Under her leadership, TD Africa has become a powerhouse in Africa’s tech distribution and training space.

Her strategic direction has been instrumental in scaling the company’s impact, proving that when women lead, industries evolve and thrive.

The recent graduation of approximately 400 female ‘techsters’ through TD Africa’s TecHerdermy program represents a significant milestone in this mission.

This achievement reflects Dr. Ekeh’s long-standing belief, articulated over 15 years ago, that women would eventually dominate leadership positions across various sectors, particularly technology.

As he predicted, many thriving organisations now have women at the helm of affairs. Recent global statistics strongly support Dr. Ekeh’s vision.

According to McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report, companies with gender-diverse executive teams are 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability.

Furthermore, the World Economic Forum‘s research indicates that economies with higher female labour force participation experience an average of 3.4% higher GDP growth compared to less gender-balanced counterparts.

In the technology sector specifically, Deloitte’s 2023 Global Technology Leadership Study revealed that companies with above-average diversity in their technology teams report 30% higher innovation revenue than companies with below-average diversity.

These figures are not merely correlational, they reflect fundamental advantages that women bring to leadership.

The Zinox Group itself demonstrates this philosophy in action, with over five female CEOs leading various business units within the conglomerate. These women are not just occupying positions but driving results.

As the company’s motto suggests, Zinox is truly ‘anticipating the future’. These leaders embody the qualities that research consistently shows make women effective business leaders: fostering positive work culture, maintaining focused execution, demonstrating high emotional intelligence, and bringing emotional and spiritual resilience to Africa’s challenging tech landscape.

Perhaps most impressively, Zinox Group’s commitment to talent development has created a remarkable ripple effect throughout Africa’s tech ecosystem.

Former employees now lead multinational corporations, bringing with them the values and vision instilled during their time within Dr. Ekeh’s organizations.

Speaking at a recent AI and Robotics Summit organised by the NCS, Dr. Ekeh urged stakeholders to “compete through exceptional content” to realize the Nigeria of their dreams, a battle he has personally waged for over thirty years.

Despite setbacks, including a significant $28 million loss on investments in AI and robotics in Nigeria years ago, his commitment to technology as a transformative force remains unshaken.

Dr. Ekeh consistently emphasizes that technology represents an unparalleled opportunity for scale and impact.

While acknowledging technology’s potential for misuse, he remains focused on its positive applications — creating solutions that are “good, useful, profitable, and enduring“.

His advice to entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts emphasizes three key investments: research, human capital development, and spiritual content.

This holistic approach reflects Dr. Ekeh’s understanding that technical knowledge alone is insufficient; true innovation requires character, vision, and purpose.

The Zinox chairman’s ambitions extend beyond Nigeria to the entire African continent. By building what he envisions as “the biggest tech solution company in Africa,” Dr. Ekeh aims to transform the narrative around African technology from consumption to creation.

With the African tech market projected to reach $712 billion this year according to the International Finance Corporation, and women-led startups demonstrating 35% higher returns on investment according to a 2023 analysis, Dr. Ekeh’s focus on female tech professionals appears both visionary and strategically sound.

As Africa positions itself in the global digital economy, leaders like Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh demonstrate that the continent’s technological future may well be female tech professionals and others, and that future is here.

The post Leo Stan Ekeh’s Vision of Empowering 10,000 Female Tech Professionals appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This, he said at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was one of the panellists. 

The issue of fuel subsidy removal has obvious impacts on citizens. While the long-term benefits of a healthier economy are undoubted, the immediate challenges require careful consideration.

I’m sure several people are having similar thoughts as I am — the negative outweighs the positive right now, will the table ever turn?

Over the past 18 years, Nigeria has spent more than $30 billion on fuel subsidies. This expenditure has impacted funding for areas like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. 

While the intention was to ease the burden on the population, statistics show that wealthier households actually benefit more from these subsidies due to higher fuel consumption. This means the government is spending money that could be better targeted to support low-income Nigerians.

But then again, the recent price increase has impacted Nigerians, particularly those living in poverty — approximately 133 million. Transportation expenses, a major strain on low-income budgets, have risen sharply. This has limited access to work, healthcare, and essential services, further worsening their situation.

Here’s something else the President said that got me pondering over the economic hardship hindering several youths despite being ‘vibrant’ and ‘ready for technology’:  “Luckily, we have a very vibrant youthful population interested in discoveries by themselves and they are highly ready for technology, good education committed to growth. We are able to manage that and partition the economic drawback and the fallout of subsidy removal.”

Yes, there are free training made available, but the factors that limit vibrant youth despite being ready to take hold of their future are numerous. 

The two major issues are unstable electricity supply, which can disrupt online learning as well as working, and limited access to affordable internet hindering access to educational resources and connecting with mentors or collaborators. 

Let’s not forget the high costs for those without access to free training — even some free training are paid for when it comes to the advanced or pro learning.

Transportation expenses, a significant chunk of a low-income household’s budget, have risen so steeply, leading to difficulty getting to work, limitations on accessing essential healthcare services, and even challenges running everyday errands. 

The impact doesn’t stop there because fuel is the lifeblood of transporting goods across the country. With its price increase, a domino effect takes hold. Food, medicine, and other necessities have become more expensive, further squeezing already limited household budgets. 

The situation becomes even more concerning if the freed-up funds from subsidy removal aren’t efficiently directed towards social programs that could act as a buffer for the poor during this economic transition.

Though the President admitted that the hallmark of leadership involves taking difficult decisions at the time it ought to be taken decisively, and highlighting the awareness of the vulnerable being affected, the issue remains worrisome.

Not to be one-sided, let’s see how fuel subsidy drains the national budget:

Reduced government revenue: When the government sells fuel below market price, it forgoes the potential tax revenue it could collect on those sales. 

This reduces the amount of money available for funding public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Higher budget deficits: The cost of subsidizing fuel can create a budget deficit, where spending exceeds revenue. This can lead to increased government borrowing, which can burden the economy in the long term.

Inefficient allocation of resources: Subsidies often benefit wealthier households more than poorer ones, as wealthier households tend to consume more fuel. This means that the government is spending money that could be better targeted to help low-income Nigerians.

Discourages investment in renewable energy: In keeping fuel prices artificially low, subsidies discourage investment in renewable energy sources like solar or wind power. This can slow down the country’s progress towards a more sustainable energy future.

So, the big question is — How can Nigeria find a balance? 

Tinubu said that the removal of fuel subsidy has undeniably reinforced accountability, transparency, and physical discipline for the entire nation. We hope to get a clearer view of this. 

He strongly believes that it is important to prioritize the direction in which the country should move forward.

In my opinion one of the ways to move forward is filling the missing gap:

1. Targeted Social Safety Nets

This could include subsidized public transportation for low-income individuals, but right now, even the train is not cheap.

2. Progressive Taxation

Enhance progressive taxation measures to ensure that the burden of funding essential services and programs does not disproportionately fall on the poor. 

Implementing fair and equitable tax policies can help generate revenue while minimizing the impact on those with lower incomes.

3. Efficiency in Government Spending

Improve transparency and efficiency in government spending to optimize the allocation of resources. In reducing wastage and corruption, more funds can be directed towards social programs aimed at mitigating the impact of subsidy removal.

4. Investment in Infrastructure

Channel savings from fuel subsidy removal towards investments in infrastructure such as healthcare, education, and public transportation. 

Improving infrastructure can enhance overall economic productivity and create employment opportunities, benefiting all segments of society.

5. Diversification of Revenue Sources 

Come up with alternative revenue sources beyond oil exports to reduce dependency on volatile commodity prices. 

Developing non-oil sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology can generate sustainable revenue streams and reduce fiscal vulnerability.

6. Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement 

Facilitate inclusive dialogue with civil society organizations, community leaders, and affected stakeholders to better understand the diverse impacts of subsidy removal. 

Engaging with stakeholders can inform policy decisions and ensure that interventions are directed to meet specific needs.

7. Long-term Economic Planning

Adopt a comprehensive long-term economic strategy that balances fiscal discipline with social inclusion. 

Setting objectives and potential achievements can guide policy implementation and ensure sustained progress towards economic stability and poverty alleviation.

Need I say more? Let’s hear from you!

The post Fuel Subsidies: Are They Helping the Poor or a Drain on the National Budget? appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential Spokesman, in a statement on Sunday, said the President gave the assurance on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with Hong Namkoong, the president and chief executive officer of Samsung, and Jungwook Kim, the vhairman of Samsung Investment Global.

The meeting took place on the margins of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, currently going on in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to the President, “Nigeria is a very huge country with a huge and able population. We have vibrant youths ready to learn and progress. In fact, our young do not wait for us.

“They go ahead of us in their determination to succeed. We must keep up and provide opportunities for them to excel with. We have an infrastructure deficit and you can take advantage of that and invest early and deeply in an environment that is absorptive and ready for it. It is modeled after a willing-buyer and willing-seller arrangement. Easy capital in and easy capital out.

The President took time to detail the significant opportunities across sectors for investment within the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which involves the potential utilization of co-finance instruments on critical infrastructure and technology which Samsung is well known to produce.

President Tinubu also harped on the importance of deepening collaboration in the crude oil, natural gas, renewable energy, engineering, technology and agriculture sectors, emphasizing the potential for vast private sector participation in the establishment of fully-embedded, off-grid, cold-chain integration across sub-industries in the agriculture sector to forestall post-harvest losses with mass refrigeration capacity.

“We are ready to discuss and discover one another more. We can benefit so much from collaborative effort. You have the know-how, and we have the willingness. Seize this opportunity,” the President told the Samsung executives.

Jungwook Kim, Samsung Chairman, in his remarks, expressed Samsung’s interest in expanding its presence in Nigeria, citing the successes of sister companies already operating in the country while laying out potential new opportunities in Nigeria.

“We have built many power stations around the world. We are top of the class in gas-fired power plant construction. We have an ever-increasing portfolio in the production of renewable energy solutions around the world. We can make a lot of progress in Nigeria’s energy sector as well as bringing our technology to other key productive sectors.

“Transmission lines and smart grids are areas where we see increasing demand globally. You need infrastructure anywhere you go. We are good at metropolitan rail lines; we are good at bridge construction and any of these types of infrastructure projects, in addition to oil and gas engineering projects.

“We are looking forward to knowing Nigeria better under your leadership and to see how we can penetrate the Nigerian market deeper. This is a great opportunity for us.”

The post Tinubu to Samsung: Nigeria is Your Best Investment Destination appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The World Economic Forum convened prominent individuals from the healthcare industry, academia, and government to explore and monitor issues driving transformational change across economies, industries around the world. 

Honorable Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy of Nigeria, passionately advocated for a sweeping technological transformation to address critical healthcare issues in Africa.

Hon. Tijani emphasized the urgent need to empower governments to harness available technologies and increase investment in connecting and empowering people with access to information. He stressed the importance of fostering ecosystems that can support and scale innovation to tackle Africa’s challenges effectively. He cited Rwanda as a prime example where government-led initiatives and supportive ecosystems have driven successful innovation to address various issues in the country.

One of the key issues highlighted during the World Economic Forum was the pressing need for improved connectivity in many regions. Despite the presence of various facilities, inadequate connectivity has hindered development potential. Hon. Tijani emphasized the importance of creating ecosystems that facilitate development and ensure that necessary infrastructure supports investments.

The adoption of health technologies was underscored by Zipline’s recent introduction of drone technology for distributing essential medical supplies to healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Several states, including Kaduna, Cross River, and Bayelsa, have partnered with Zipline to efficiently transport essential medical products, including vaccines, blood, and medicines, to remote communities.

Zipline’s drones cover distances of about 3 hours by road in less than 35 minutes, significantly improving the quality of care, patient outcomes, and healthcare providers’ satisfaction. This success has led many governments to consider Zipline technology as a vital component of the aerial logistics ecosystem, simplifying the delivery of essential medical supplies.

Hon. Tijani commended investments like those made by Zipline, recognizing them as catalysts for technological advancement and development. He emphasized the need to invest in essential infrastructure and create supportive ecosystems, enabling Africa to effectively address its challenges and accelerate its development.

The Forum, themed ‘Innovation at Scale: Ensuring Health and Prosperity,’ featured discussions by key figures who shared their insights on leveraging technology and innovation to address Africa’s challenges. Contributors emphasized the growing consensus on the crucial role of technology and innovation in addressing Africa’s challenges, fostering health, and promoting prosperity. Collaborative efforts, empowering governments, and prioritizing healthcare and vaccine development investments were highlighted as key drivers of positive change across the continent.

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