The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has said Nigeria is well positioned to lead Africa’s digital and creative transformation, citing the country’s youthful population, entrepreneurial energy and growing innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the third edition of the Omniverse Africa Summit in Lagos, Mignot said the digital and creative economy presents a major opportunity for Nigeria to drive innovation, create jobs and accelerate economic growth.
“The new economy, digital and creative, offers a fantastic opportunity,” he said, noting that young Nigerians are uniquely placed to drive innovation because they have grown up in a digital era.
The summit brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, investors, creatives and development partners from across Africa and beyond to explore how technology and collaboration can unlock economic opportunities for young people.
Mignot said the European Union and Nigeria have identified the digital and creative sectors as strategic priorities within their partnership, with investments spanning digital governance, infrastructure, skills development and entrepreneurship.
He highlighted a recently signed €45 million digital development agreement between the EU and Nigeria, support for the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, contributions to Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure agenda, and backing for the Federal Government’s Three Million Technical Talent initiative.
The ambassador also pointed to programmes such as the Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria and the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, which support innovation, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for young graduates.
Also speaking at the summit, Annett Günther stressed the importance of collaboration in driving future growth.
“The future will not be built in silos. It will be built through cooperation across sectors, institutions and borders,” she said.
Günther described Nigeria as home to one of Africa’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems, noting that Nigerian entrepreneurs are increasingly shaping global trends in financial technology, artificial intelligence, agribusiness, healthcare innovation, manufacturing and the creative industries.
Mignot said the summit’s greatest strength lies in bringing together key stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities to transform ideas into partnerships and practical solutions.
“The future is connected, but connection must be turned into impact,” he said. “Let us connect innovators with investors, policy with practice, creativity with technology, and Nigerian talent with global opportunities.”
The summit featured discussions on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, green technology, future skills, research collaboration and innovation financing, highlighting the growing role of partnerships in shaping Africa’s economic future.
