NEW YORK, NY— On Wednesday, September 20, the U.S. Nigeria Council for Food Security, Trade, and Investment (USNC) convened a breakfast around the theme of “The New Government’s Priorities in the Tech Industry.” The event took place on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) high-level week in New York City. H.E. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and H.E. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment headlined the event.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and USNC Chairman Terence McCulley welcomed guests to the breakfast and gave an overview of new Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s newly formed cabinet, with 34 ministers taking up their responsibilities in the weeks leading up to UNGA. This cabinet will be tasked with implementing and coordinating President Tinubu’s ambitious economic reform agenda. Nigeria’s highly innovative tech sector will play a central role in any efforts to rejuvenate economic growth in the country.
H.E. Minister Tijani highlighted this fact in his remarks, explaining how his background as a tech entrepreneur is shaping how he seeks to lead the sector towards greater growth and innovation. In particular, he cited his hope that the economic benefits of Nigeria’s digital industry will spread beyond the tech hotbed of Lagos.
H.E. Minister Uzoka-Anite built on these themes in her address, outlining why Nigeria’s strengths make it an attractive destination for US investment and a logical partner for increased trade with the United States. She shared H.E. Minister Tijani’s optimism about the country’s tech sector, but also highlighted significant opportunities in the entertainment and extractive industries.
After the keynote speeches, USNC Senior Advisor, Aubrey Hruby, moderated a discussion that included contributions from Nigerian and US investors and entrepreneurs. It was an honor for the USNC to host two important ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet for this valuable discussion, and we were particularly pleased to welcome many USNC members, including Founding Member John Coumantaros, Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria and Honorary Co-Chair of the USNC, Amb. John Negroponte, Vice Chairman of McLarty Associates and Honorary Co-Chair of the USNC, Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive of Oando, Jim Ovia, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, and Debo Lukanmi, Chevron’s Manager for Strategy and Planning in its Policy, Government, and Public Affairs division.
If you would like to learn more about the USNC and our future programming, please email USNC Director of Operations Jonathan Dörnhofer at jdornhofer@usnigeriacouncil.org.