Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has led discussions with Brazilian officials on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and GovTech, aiming to strengthen collaboration between both nations in digital innovation.
In a statement shared on his LinkedIn page on Wednesday, Tijani detailed his meeting with representatives from the ApexBrasil Trade Promotion and Investment Attraction Agency and the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises. Also in attendance were Jorge Viana, President of ApexBrasil, and Carlos Gacete, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria.
The engagement is part of Nigeria’s preparation for a Technology Exchange mission to Brazil in April 2025, aimed at fostering partnerships in AI, digital governance, and economic growth. Tijani highlighted the potential for AI to drive sustainable development, particularly within the Global South, and emphasized the importance of leveraging Brazil’s expertise in GovTech to enhance Nigeria’s public sector services.
“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 public sector services through digital innovation,” Tijani stated.
A key highlight of the discussions was the recognition of IHS Towers, a Nigerian-founded telecommunications infrastructure company with a significant presence in Brazil. Tijani also noted the long-standing trade relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, with bilateral trade reaching $2.9 billion in 2022, driven primarily by petroleum and other commodities.
As Nigeria continues its digital transformation agenda, the partnership with Brazil is expected to unlock new opportunities in AI, digital trade, and governance technology. The upcoming Technology Exchange mission in April 2025 is set to further solidify this collaboration.
