US envoy: American firms investing in Nigeria’s technical talent programme

Will Stevens, the United States (US) consul general, says American firms are investing in Nigeria’s 3 million technical talent (3MTT) programme.

The 3MTT programme is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter.

Stevens spoke on Monday at an event “Unleashing Potential: Thriving in the Digital Age,” organised by Lagos Business School.

According to the consul general, the US is working with the Nigerian government to equip citizens with the necessary skills for the digital era.

He said there are various approaches to accomplish this goal, saying that the US government is urging its companies to make their skill-building initiatives accessible to all.

“Our US companies are investing and committed to Nigeria’s 3 million technical talent programme. US companies have already committed, I think, over-committed,” Stevens said.

“I think there is like 5 million alone from Microsoft. Google is training. Amazon Web Services is training people and we are training people.

“So, the US government, through things like tech women, through USAID’s programming, is working to train and provide skilling in the digital space and we are also advocating with our companies to ensure that the skilling that they are providing is available to everyone that there is a level playing field in the digital economy, and that it is transparent to the government so the government can make an integrated strategy.”

Speaking on the critical need for predictable regulation to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, Stevens said lack of transparency is hindering businesses from making long-term investments and strategic decisions.

The consul general said a predictable business environment is necessary for building trust among investors.

Stevens urged the Nigerian government to prioritise transparency, consistency, and predictability in their regulatory approach to create an enabling environment for digital growth.