FG unveils initiative to drive tech exports, economy

The Federal Government has launched the Technology Export and Digital Trade Desk, an initiative designed to boost Nigeria’s technology exports and strengthen the sector’s contribution to the nation’s economy.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the initiative in a LinkedIn post on Monday.

He described the initiative as a significant step in the ministry’s efforts to enhance the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

This launch follows the ministry’s recent trade mission to the United States, which underscored the importance of strategic dialogues in advancing Nigeria’s tech ambitions.

“This Trade Desk marks a bold step in our commitment to increasing the technology sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP from the current 14–18 per cent to 21 per cent within the next three years,” Tijani wrote.

The Desk, launched in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, is aligned with the fifth pillar of the ministry’s strategic blueprint: trade.

The minister said the Trade Desk will play a key role in improving Nigeria’s standing on the Economic Complexity Index, supporting the country’s push to diversify its trade and secure a stronger foothold in the global digital economy.

It also aims to promote Nigerian technology exports while offering bespoke support to local companies seeking to access markets across Africa and beyond.

“This effort forms a critical component of the President’s overarching goal of achieving a $1tn Nigerian economy, underpinned by innovation, investment, and international trade,” Tijani noted.

Further, he revealed that the initiative also sets an ambitious goal to scale annual funding for Nigerian startups from $1bn to $5bn within three years.

This funding boost, according to Tijani, is expected to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness within the sector.

As part of the rollout, the government has released a white paper titled “Growing the Contribution of the Technology Ecosystem to Nigeria’s GDP—A Case for the Technology Export and Digital Trade Desk.”

The document outlined a detailed roadmap for operationalizing the initiative, with the minister inviting feedback from stakeholders.

The Trade Desk will provide a comprehensive suite of programs, partnerships, and policy interventions to enable local technology companies to compete on the global stage.