The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has launched a new initiative to help Nigerian digital service providers expand across Africa.
As part of this effort, the Ministry is inviting all digital service providers in Nigeria to participate in an official survey.
This survey will collect information about their businesses and the African countries they are interested in expanding to.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, on Monday.
Oduwole said through this initiative, Nigeria is pioneering a straightforward way to map digital services that will open doors for the country’s tech businesses across the continent.
The Minister explained that Nigerian digital businesses often encounter challenges and confusion when trying to enter other African markets. These challenges include uncertainty about how to register their services, which rules to follow, and which agencies are responsible for regulation.
“This is because, unlike physical goods and traditional services, digital services don’t fit neatly into existing trade categories.
“Nigeria is, therefore, championing digital trade services and is pioneering a simple, clear framework that both businesses and governments can understand.
“It’s like creating a common language that helps everyone to get on the same page about what these services are and how they should be treated. The transformative benefits for Nigeria include unlocking new markets,” she stated.
Oduwole stated that by identifying the African countries Nigerian businesses wish to enter, the Ministry can concentrate its trade negotiations on opening those markets and establishing a digital services repository.
She explained that this initiative will provide Nigeria with its first-ever comprehensive database of digital service providers, their expansion plans, and the challenges they encounter.
This, she added, will enhance Nigeria’s digital leadership and position the country as a forward-thinking leader in Africa’s digital economy, enabling it to shape the rules rather than merely follow them.
Despite the challenges, a number of Nigerian tech companies have managed to expand into other African countries.
