Huawei signs ICT agreement with Nigeria

LAGOS - China's Huawei and the government of Nigeria signed an agreement on Thursday to create Information Communication Technology(ICT) across the nation.

The agreement, which was signed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, is an opportunity for the company to improve on its technology transfer to Nigeria.

"We are looking at developing existing hubs and to see how we can empower those who are already working in the various ICT hubs," Osinbajo said.

According to him, some of the ICT organisations were already growing into a silicon valley in Yaba, Lagos, and many people are engaged in programming and developing applications.

He said the government would expand the scope of technology and incubate the start-ups of young people to advance ICT.

He said the development of ICT was an opportunity for people to get quick and decent jobs to enhance their lives and the economy.

He commended the Chinese group for the partnership with the government, and assured that the government would work with it to achieve success.

The vice president said the government was creating an opportunity to ease business for entrepreneurs, adding that the country must move up in the business index by opening up the market.

He said the government would encourage not only the selling of products but also their local manufacture so that the large population in the country could occupy the middle class.

Osinbajo hailed the ladies who qualified to go to China for ICT training, saying that it was the objective of the administration to advance the girl-child education and women in business because of their large population.

He also commended Huawei technologies for the manner it was advancing technology development globally, remarking that knowledge was key "and only the knowledge society will succeed".

The vice president said he was excited about certain attitude the young generation has about technology, adding that it was time for young people to be trained to imbibe ICT and the entire technology field.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, said based on existing cordial relations between China and Nigeria, China would be part of the change agenda in Nigeria.