ABUJA/Nigeria: Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Swedish telecommunications and technology giant, Ericsson, pledging the swift implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the federal government and the company earlier in 2024.
Shettima gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from Ericsson, led by the company’s Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Mr. Patrick Johansson, during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Describing Ericsson as a long-standing ally in Nigeria’s technological advancement, the Vice President recalled the company’s early contributions to the nation’s digital infrastructure and its role in laying the groundwork for other tech players.
“Ericsson is part of the Nigerian experiment,” Shettima remarked. “You have kept faith with this nation as a partner in progress and a collaborator in our shared story of transformation.”
The Vice President commended the company’s recent investments in innovation hubs and its support for small and medium-sized enterprises, saying such initiatives consolidate the firm’s legacy of partnership with Nigeria.
Highlighting Nigeria’s youthful and tech-savvy population as a key asset, Shettima urged Ericsson and other global investors to take full advantage of the country’s digital potential.
“We cherish our relationship with Sweden and your company,” he stated. “I must urge you to harness our manifest destiny. We are a large nation with a tech-savvy population. A good number of the Unicorns we have in Africa are Nigerian-based. The future is Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Mr. Patrick Johansson emphasized the importance of strengthening the relationship between Ericsson and Nigeria, particularly through projects focused on grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship.
Echoing this position, Ericsson’s Vice President and Head of Customer Units for West and South Africa, Majda Lahlou Kassi, described Nigeria as a key player in the company’s global footprint. He affirmed Ericsson’s belief in the country’s potential and commitment to promoting digital inclusion and economic growth.
“Nigeria holds an important place in our history,” he said. “We believe in its potential and are proud of the progress made in deepening our relationship.”
Other members of the Ericsson delegation included the company’s Director of Public Affairs, Government and Industry Relations, and Senior Solutions Architect, Mr. Efosa Aigbe.
The visit reflects a shared commitment to strengthening technological cooperation, promoting innovation, and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
