In a groundbreaking revelation, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has unveiled plans to generate thousands of jobs in Nigeria through innovative initiatives tied to SpaceX’s Starlink program. The announcement was made during a meeting with Ryan Goodnight, Senior Director of Global Licensing and Activation at SpaceX, on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union-World Radio Communication Conference in Dubai.
Taking to the X platform (formerly Twitter), Minister Tijani disclosed that Nigeria has become Starlink’s largest market in Africa. The minister engaged in discussions with Goodnight about addressing the connectivity challenges faced by unserved and underserved Nigerians. Emphasizing the potential for job creation, Tijani proposed initiatives such as a certified installer/maintenance program for Starlink and collaboration with local hardware startups to manufacture repeater boxes.
In a tweet, Minister Tijani stated, “Excellent conversation with Ryan Goodnight, Snr. Director, Global Licensing and Activation of @SpaceX on the sidelines of ITU-WRC 23, who shared that Nigeria is their biggest market in Africa.”
“As demand for @Starlink continues to grow in Nigeria, we spoke about the issue of connecting unserved and underserved Nigerians. I also mentioned the possibility of creating thousands of new jobs in Nigeria through initiatives like a certified installer/maintenance program for Starlink and working with hardware startups to produce repeater boxes locally. Our intention is to encourage every tech company to invest and deepen our tech ecosystem @elonmusk.”
This revelation comes as Starlink officially launched in Nigeria in January 2023, quickly amassing 6,756 wireless Internet subscribers, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission. Nigeria, being Starlink’s first African operational country and 47th globally, positions itself at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and job creation in the continent.