The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has revealed that initiatives like a certified installer/maintenance programme for Starlink and collaborating with hardware startups to produce repeater boxes locally could create thousands of jobs.
During a meeting with Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Global Licensing and Activation at SpaceX, at the International Telecommunication Union-World Radio Communication Conference in Dubai, Tijani discussed the connectivity needs of unserved and underserved Nigerians and the potential for job creation.
Tijani shared on social media platform X that Nigeria is now Starlink’s biggest market in Africa. The official launch of Starlink in Nigeria took place in January 2023, and the company currently has 6,756 wireless internet subscribers in the country. Nigeria is Starlink’s first operational country in Africa and 47th globally.
The Minister emphasized the importance of encouraging tech companies to invest in Nigeria and deepen the country’s tech ecosystem. He believes that initiatives like the certified installer/maintenance programme for Starlink and collaborating with hardware startups to produce repeater boxes locally could contribute to job creation in the tech sector.
The Nigerian Communications Commission provided the data on Starlink’s wireless internet subscribers in Nigeria. The Minister’s discussions with SpaceX’s Senior Director indicate a promising partnership in expanding connectivity and creating employment opportunities within the country.
The focus on developing the tech ecosystem aligns with Nigeria’s ambitions to foster digital innovation, drive economic growth, and close the connectivity gap for underserved communities. By attracting investments from leading companies like SpaceX, the country aims to accelerate its digital transformation and reap the benefits of a thriving tech sector.
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