By NewsDesk
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Swedish telecommunications giant, Ericsson, through the prompt implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024.
The Vice President made the pledge on Monday while receiving a high-level Ericsson delegation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The team was led by Mr. Patrick Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“Ericsson is a part of the Nigerian experiment,” Shettima stated. “The company laid the foundation for other tech giants at the time and has remained a faithful partner in our shared story of transformation.”
He lauded Ericsson’s investments in Nigeria, particularly its support for small businesses and the establishment of innovation hubs, describing the efforts as a solid consolidation of its partnership with the country.
Highlighting Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem, Shettima urged the company to explore the nation’s vast potential, especially its vibrant and youthful population.
“We cherish our relationship with Sweden and your company,” he said. “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 that we have in Africa are Nigerian-based. The future is Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Mr. Johansson said Ericsson was committed to promoting grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
“Our focus remains on strengthening this relationship through local empowerment and innovation,” he noted.
Also speaking, Ms. Majda Lahlou Kassi, Vice President and Head of Customer Units for West and South Africa at Ericsson, said Nigeria holds a special place in the company’s operations.
“Ericsson believes in Nigeria’s potential,” Kassi said. “We are proud of the relationship we have built and excited about the possibilities for growth in the local market.”
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.