The Managing Director for HP in Southern Africa, Yesh Surjoodeen, has stated that Nigeria’s increasing tech-savviness and strong entrepreneurial spirit uniquely position the country to lead in developing an IT-driven economy across various sectors.
He believes that these attributes can foster innovation and drive significant economic growth.
In a statement on Monday, Surjoodeen emphasized that with strategic investment in training and technology, Nigeria has the potential to emulate and even surpass the successes of other tech hubs, such as Kenya, known as the Silicon Savannah.
Surjoodeen pointed out that Nigeria’s technology landscape is marked by a multitude of thriving startups and innovation centers, highlighting a rapidly growing industry.
“With its huge population of over 230 million and a culture deeply rooted in determination and resilience, the country is well positioned to be the West African tech hub.
“Quite significantly, most of these start-ups and tech hubs are located in Lagos, the only African city ranked in the Global Top 100 Start-up Ecosystems by Startup Link in 2024.
“The city is also home to five of the seven tech unicorns in Africa, evidenced by companies, such as HP, who are committed to advancing digital equity and driving the economy forward using technology,” he said.
He praised the Nigerian tech industry for its substantial contribution to the country’s economic growth through innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and overall GDP enhancement.
He acknowledged the efforts of federal and sub-national governments in promoting skills acquisition via digital platforms, which are essential for fostering a technologically driven economy.
“It is gratifying to note that despite the inclement economic climate in the country, there is a growing number of tech companies that are regularly innovating to be able to deliver quality services using cutting edge technology in a country that is getting more and more sophisticated in demands.
“We see digital innovations in areas such as commerce, agriculture, education, health, finance, banking, insurance, and payment systems. Service providers are using digital platforms to deliver services in these sectors in a manner that was previously considered far-fetched,” Surjoodeen said.
The HP boss also praised the National Digital Economy Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly, highlighting its potential to drive the economy toward digital transactions and improved service delivery while enhancing governance.
He believes the bill could be a game changer for Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, fostering local innovation and broader participation across various sectors, ultimately shaping the future of the economy through numerous digital opportunities.
