Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms. Margrethe Vestager, announced the package during an interaction with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami at the Digital Economy Complex in Abuja, Monday.

According to Vestager, the package will help enhance secure connectivity, digitalise public services, support entrepreneurship and build digital skills, while developing a human-centric, democratic governance framework for technology.

She noted that Nigeria has potential for digitalisation, hence the need to continue to partner the European Union on business opportunities, investments and other developmental issues.

“Nigeria has immense potential for digitalisation and with a combination of €160 million in grants and €660 million in loans, the European Union aims to comprehensively support Nigeria’s digitalization strategy,”

Responding, the minister thanked the EU for the intervention, even as he reiterated the Nigerian Government’s willingness to partner with the European Union.

“Africa has always looked up to Europe in the area of technological advancements and this partnership is a welcome development that will project the digitalisation aspirations of our country”, he said.

He added: “This partnership with regards to digital entrepreneurship will address the challenge of unemployment and unemployability alongside the Nigeria Startup Bill which also aims to address a myriad of issues within the ecosystem.”

The EU’s Global Gateway Initiative is a €300 billion European Strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.