Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, is leading efforts to strengthen collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil, with a particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and GovTech.
In a statement shared on his LinkedIn page on Wednesday, Tijani detailed his discussions with officials from the ApexBrasil Trade Promotion and Investment Attraction Agency and the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises.
Among those present at the meeting were Jorge Viana, President of ApexBrasil, and Carlos Gacete, Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria.
This engagement forms part of Nigeria’s broader strategy ahead of a planned Technology Exchange mission to Brazil in April 2025.
Tijani highlighted the vast potential for both nations to harness AI for sustainable development, particularly within the framework of the Global South.
The conversation also underscored Brazil’s advanced experience in leveraging GovTech solutions to optimize government services—an area Nigeria is keen to develop as part of its ongoing digital transformation efforts.
“In addition to digital trade, we discussed the importance of bilateral cooperation between our countries. As leaders in the Global South, there is immense opportunity to harness Artificial Intelligence for development. Brazil’s expertise in GovTech will serve as a valuable resource as we look to improve our own public sector services through digital innovation,” Tijani stated.
A significant aspect of the discussions was the recognition of IHS Towers, a telecommunications infrastructure firm founded in Nigeria that has established a strong presence in Brazil.
Tijani also highlighted the enduring trade ties between Nigeria and Brazil, noting that bilateral trade amounted to $2.9 billion in 2022, with petroleum and other commodities playing a major role in the exchange.
