The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration with the African Union (AU) to advance its $2 billion open-access fibre initiative, Project BRIDGE, as part of efforts to deepen digital infrastructure and accelerate artificial intelligence development across the continent.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made the appeal during a meeting with the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato Mataboge, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Tijani said the engagement focused on strengthening AU participation in Project BRIDGE, particularly its energy component, which he described as critical to powering sustainable digital infrastructure.
He noted that discussions also explored broader opportunities for collaboration to expand investment in digital infrastructure across Africa, improve connectivity, and support innovation-driven economic growth.
A key part of the meeting, according to him, centred on building Africa’s artificial intelligence capacity, including the development of shared compute infrastructure and increased investment in foundational systems needed to fully harness AI opportunities on the continent.
The talks also reviewed preparations for the upcoming Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Communication and ICT, where African countries are expected to align on a collective agenda for digital transformation.
Both parties further discussed Africa’s engagement within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), stressing the need for a coordinated African position ahead of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled for 2026 in Doha, Qatar.
Tijani said the meeting reinforced the importance of deeper continental cooperation in building the digital foundations required to drive Africa’s long-term prosperity.
