Nigeria looks to Big Tech to digitize fragile economy

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how important digitization is to economies around the world. When lockdown measures were in place and brick-and-mortar establishments were forced to close their doors, the employees and businesses that fared the best were those that were prepared for a digital economy. And while that transformation is still unfolding, Nigeria has begun making moves to position the West African country out front in the digital revolution.

One math teacher from Lagos, Nigeria — Basirat Olamide Ajayi — demonstrated the importance of having digital capabilities in the education sector. When the lockdown made it impossible for students to attend class, they were unable to study for their exams: Ajayi turned to technology to bridge the gap, tutoring students for free on Twitter, Whatsapp, and Instagram. In six months, some 1,800 students from Nigeria and beyond signed up.

After months of talks, the Nigerian government inked a deal with technology giant Microsoft designed to pave the way for future generations by transforming the economy and preparing the country’s youth for the digital age. Nigeria has identified three key themes to get it there:

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