The European Union has announced an additional €45 million investment to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, deepen fibre connectivity and expand digital skills, reinforcing long-term cooperation between both sides in the technology sector.
The funding package was signed in Brussels by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships during the EU–Nigeria Digital Open Day. The EU said the new commitment completes its Digital Economy Package for Nigeria and is designed to accelerate digital transformation while opening new opportunities for investment and job creation.
According to the EU, the additional funding will support closer collaboration in areas such as digital infrastructure, skills transfer, data protection and secure digital services. The European Commissioner described the initiative as part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to deliver inclusive growth through technology by prioritising skills development, open standards and privacy. He said the new programme would strengthen modern e-public services and prepare Nigeria’s youth for future digital jobs.
Nigeria’s digital economy minister said the partnership reflects a shared belief that digital transformation should drive productivity and sustainable growth. He noted that Project Bridge, a core element of the agreement, provides a commercially viable pathway for European investors and suppliers to participate in deploying open-access fibre infrastructure across Nigeria. He added that Nigeria’s work in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure and large-scale talent development programmes positions the country as a strong destination for long-term European investment.
The €45 million grant will support Project Bridge, which aims to roll out about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic backbone nationwide. The project is Nigeria’s most ambitious digital infrastructure investment and is being supported through financing from international development banks. The grant will fund detailed network design, local skills development and supply chain deployment, with a focus on mobilising European private sector participation.
The programme will also contribute to the modernization of Nigeria’s public administration by supporting secure and user-friendly digital services. In addition, it will strengthen nationwide digital skills initiatives to train technicians, engineers, and IT professionals, a step the EU said is critical to ensuring that large-scale digital investments translate into sustainable jobs and locally managed systems.
Officials said the Digital Open Day was organized to provide European investors and technology suppliers with clearer access to information about opportunities within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, with Project Bridge presented as a major entry point for collaboration.
Once fully implemented, the broader €1.7 billion Project Bridge initiative is expected to expand Nigeria’s total fibre-optic network to about 125,000 kilometres, increasing coverage by roughly 70 per cent and positioning the country among those with the largest terrestrial fibre infrastructure in Africa.
Digitalization remains a core pillar of the EU–Nigeria partnership under the €820 million Digital Economy Package launched in 2022 through the Global Gateway strategy. The collaboration spans connectivity, digital skills, entrepreneurship, digital services and governance, with a strong emphasis on private sector participation.
For MSMEs and tech-enabled businesses, the investment signals growing opportunities in broadband deployment, digital services, training and local content development. With Nigeria already hosting Africa’s largest e-commerce market and a strong start-up ecosystem, stakeholders say improved infrastructure and skills could further unlock growth, innovation and employment driven by the digital sector.
