Nigeria is strengthening its digital partnership with Brazil, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and GovTech as part of broader efforts to drive technological advancement and economic growth.
The discussions, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, involved key Brazilian institutions, including the ApexBrasil Trade Promotion and Investment Attraction Agency and the Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises. ApexBrasil President Jorge Viana and the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Gacete, were also in attendance.
This engagement forms part of Nigeria’s preparations for a Technology Exchange mission to Brazil in April 2025. Tijani highlighted the immense potential for both nations to leverage AI to foster sustainable development, particularly within the Global South. He pointed to Brazil’s expertise in GovTech—technology-driven governance solutions—as a model for Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation.
“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 key aspect of the discussions was Nigeria’s recognition of IHS Towers, a Nigerian-founded telecommunications infrastructure company with a significant presence in Brazil. This underlines the long-standing economic ties between both nations, with trade volumes reaching $2.9 billion in 2022, largely driven by petroleum and other commodities.
With digital transformation becoming a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic strategy, collaborations such as this could pave the way for stronger technological and commercial exchanges between Africa’s largest economy and Brazil.
