- By Femi Alabi
United States Consul General, Will Stevens has said that Nigeria is United States’ second-largest trading partner in Africa with two-way trade exceeding 10.6 billion dollars in 2022.
Stevens during the Omniverse Summit at Landmark Event Centre on Thursday, in Lagos, stated that his country is proud to be one of the largest foreign investors in Nigeria, with FDI totaling 5.6 billion dollars in 2022.
The consul general spoke on the theme: “The Role of Technology in Fostering International Collaboration in an Interconnected World”.
He noted that his country is commitment to supporting Nigeria and Africa on the journey to prosperity, saying that a strong and prosperous Africa is good for the world.
Stevens called for collaboration, sharing knowledge, and pooling resources to overcome obstacles and achieve the seemingly impossible.
“Let us leverage this opportunity to forge lasting partnerships, break down barriers, and use technology not just to connect, but to create a future where innovation flourishes for the betterment of our interconnected world,” Stevens said
He said that the way can be paved for fruitful international partnerships by embracing inclusivity, bringing capital to markets that need infrastructure investment, and developing robust cybersecurity measures.
“These innovative creators are reinforcing my deeply held belief that African solutions and African voices are critical and central to resolving the problems of the 21st century and beyond.
“In the past decade, global internet traffic has grown by 700 per cent, and mobile phone users have surpassed 6.6 billion.
“This increased connectivity creates boundless potential for cross-border collaboration, creating a global village where ideas can spark across oceans, and innovations can blossom through collective efforts.
“Imagine a world where researchers from across continents collaborate on ground-breaking medical discoveries, where engineers work together to tackle climate change, and where entrepreneurs share ideas and resources to build a more sustainable future.”
Stevens stressed that the world is using the latest technological innovations to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges in the areas of climate change, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other vital areas of development and economic growth.
He, however, said building these bridges required more than just technological prowess, adding that challenges like cultural and linguistic barriers, unequal access to resources, and cyber-security concerns must be overcome.
“Together, I see that some of these challenges are already being addressed,” he said.