Meta Platforms Incorporated, led by former UK Deputy Prime Minister and Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Sir Nick Clegg, announced that Instagram will introduce a feature allowing Nigerian creators to earn money from their content.
The new feature, set to launch in June 2024, will let local content creators earn a living using the app.
Clegg shared this during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
“We have a lot to do with Nigeria to deepen partnerships,” Clegg added
Tinubu stated that his administration is making Nigeria a leader in information and communications technology in Africa.
The President mentioned that the Federal Government is investing in digital technology to support small businesses and create opportunities across sectors.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President emphasized that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in this era of technological advancements.
Therefore, his administration is creating opportunities in information and communications technology, building capacity, and forming partnerships.
The statement titled, ‘President Tinubu to Meta: Nigeria poised to lead Africa in digital technology; we have gifted youths and capable hands to actualize our vision,’ stressed the importance of Nigerian youths in the country's digital economic expansion.
The President highlighted the importance of Nigerian youths in achieving digital economic expansion through the 3MTT programme, which aims to train three million Nigerian youths in digital technology and essential skills before deploying them to innovation hubs nationwide.
“Nigeria has a vibrant, gifted, and resourceful youth population. Understanding that the future is likely to be AI-enabled, we need to prepare our youths to compete and participate in the global economy.
“Nigeria is eager to lead the African continent in digital technology and recognizes the value of data in its development.
“We are willing to collaborate on technological advancements. Collaboration is the way forward. We need a partnership that benefits everyone,” President Tinubu said.
He stressed the importance of technology in driving small businesses, expressing his commitment to deploying, adapting, enhancing, and using technology to drive growth in micro-businesses and generate mass prosperity.
Tinubu noted, “I am interested in using technology to develop small businesses.
“We need to create a more favorable business environment for you and also make it more profitable for us.
“I hope we can collaborate and continue to advance our mutual interests.”
Earlier, Clegg thanked the President for an executive order that allowed the landing of the Meta-backed deep-sea cable in Nigeria.
He said, “It is an extraordinary infrastructure project. When it comes online in the first quarter of 2025, it will have double the capacity of all existing subsea cables.
“We buried the cable 50 percent deeper than any other subsea cables under the seabed. It is more powerful and more extensive in terms of its geographical connectivity.
“It could result in up to 37 billion dollars’ worth of increase in economic activity in the next two or three years across the African continent.”
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated that Meta platforms are crucial platforms in Nigeria, and therefore opportunities for partnerships and engagement are vital to promoting development in the digital economy sector.
“We must keep engaging to create opportunities for our people so they can also share in global prosperity. Digital technology is an opportunity to connect Africa to contribute to the development of the world,” the Minister stated.
