Last week was another shining week for Nigeria’s tech industry as the country’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo led some members of the Presidential Advisory Group on Technology and Creativity on a tour to Silicon Valley on a collaborative investment drive.
The tour is to showcase to the world the progress and strides in the country’s technology, innovation and creative space by Nigerian startups and entertainment industry practitioners.
At a meeting held in Silicon Valley, the delegation interacted with scores of Nigerians working with Google. The team later met with a series of key technology investors and also visited the headquarters of LinkedIn. Many missed how the tour went, and what transpired during the tour. Here are some things you should know about the Silicon Valley tour.
The Visit to Google Headquarters
Prof. Osinbajo first visited the corporate headquarters of Google and Alphabet Inc, google’s parent company in Mountain View California. During his visit to Googleplex, the VP and his team were received by Google CEO, Sundar Pichai who talked about the opportunities that abound in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Pichai led a team of executives to a meeting with the VP and other Nigerian officials. Osinbajo was also part of a series of investment forums in Silicon Valley interacting with key US technology firms promoting Nigeria tech firms. After meeting with Google team and other investors, The VP then moved to LinkedIn after Photo Ops at the Google HQ.
Meeting With LinkedIn Management
At the LinkedIn office, the VP and his team were hosted by Allen Blue, Co-founder and Vice-president of Product Management in a fireside chat themed “Investing in African Talent”.
During the chat, Osinbajo explained the reasons for the Presidential Advisory Council. He also said that Nigeria’s fast-growing population called for unconventional educational models.
2Baba, Mo Abudu, And Others Follow VP To Hollywood
Aside from visiting Google and LinkedIn, the Vice President alongside Nigeria music icon, Innocent Idibia (2Baba), Mo Abudu and Bolanle Austen Peters paid a visit to Hollywood in a bid to explore the creativity arm of the group.
The visit which held in Los Angeles was an interactive investment gathering with individuals in Hollywood. Speaking at the meeting, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Adeyemi Dipeolu said the aim of the tour is to promote cooperation between Nigeria and the international market and attract investors to Nigeria. The VP was accompanied by Dr. Okey Enelemah; Amb. Dipe Olu and some top government officials.
We hope this tour will attract foreign direct investment in Nigeria’s budding technology and creative industry. The tour is also hoped to showcase the overall improvements in Nigerian business environment especially technology and entertainment to investors and business leaders around the world.