Nigeria and the government of Sierra Leone have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation, promote digital inclusion and boost the economies of the two countries.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, led a high-level Nigerian delegation to Sierra Leone for the Nigeria–Sierra Leone Digital Economy Bilateral Trade Mission.
According to a statement emanating from the Minister’s office in Abuja, the top level discussions culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation across digital public infrastructure, digital trade, cybersecurity, youth innovation, and technology transfer.
“This engagement comes on the heels of Dr. Tijani’s participation in the Regional Summit on Digital Transformation in Benin Republic, reinforcing Nigeria’s proactive leadership in shaping West Africa’s digital future”, the statement noted.
It added that the mission featured ecosystem hub tours, press engagements, technical sessions, and Government-to-Government deliberations hosted by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology & Innovation, Hon. Salima Monorma Bah.
The government statement reads in part, “Discussions focused on digital trade coordination, cybersecurity collaboration, skills development, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, reflecting the shared ambition of both nations to accelerate regional digital integration.
“Following two days of bilateral engagements, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening regional integration, expanding digital infrastructure, and building a more innovative, resilient, and inclusive West African economy.
“Specific highlights of the discussions include, Strengthened Bilateral Cooperation
Both Governments agreed to enhance collaboration across priority areas of mutual interest, including:
Digital public infrastructure and interoperable government systems, broadband expansion and resilient connectivity, digital identity, cybersecurity, and data governance,
Artificial Intelligence development and responsible innovation.”
Others are “Digital literacy, talent development, and institutional capacity building
Cross-border digital trade and private-sector partnerships”
On the MoU, the statement noted that the governments of Nigeria and Sierra Leone signed MoUs establishing structured cooperation on:
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
Broadband infrastructure and spectrum collaboration.
It said private-sector companies were not left out in the engagements from both countries as they signed multiple partnerships and MoUs.
The government said the MoUs also touched expansion of digital services across markets,
Strengthening fintech, edtech, healthtech, govtech and cloud solutions, Driving joint innovation projects, Supporting startup exchange and enterprise growth
“Nigeria remains fully committed to enabling a more harmonised, secure, and innovative digital region. Our partnership with Sierra Leone is not only a bilateral engagement, it is part of a broader vision to ensure that technology, talent, and trade flow seamlessly across our continent,” Dr. Tijani said.
He qouted his Sierra Leonian counterpart as saying that “Together, we are laying the foundations for a digital economy that empowers our young people and creates shared prosperity”.
According to Dr Tijani, the Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology & Innovation, welcomed the cooperation, and highlighted its potential to accelerate Sierra Leone’s digital transformation.
She stressed the need for both countries to build their relationship and shared history towards accelerating the continent’s digital economy, Dr Tijani said.
According to the statement, the Mission’s emphasis on private-sector collaboration was further demonstrated by the participation of leading Nigerian technology companies, including IHS Towers, Flutterwave, CcHUB, Miden, Cybervergent, Prunedge, Itana, and Awarri, whose presence highlighted Nigeria’s depth of innovation capacity and commitment to fostering regional investment flows.
“These companies engaged Sierra Leonean counterparts in structured B2B matchmaking sessions designed to stimulate cross-border partnerships, digital infrastructure development, and knowledge exchange”, noted the government.
The Nigerian delegation included agency heads from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy including Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB).
Others are Dr. Olubunmi Ajala, National Coordinator, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR); and Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator, Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
