*Mary Beth Leonard, US Ambassador to Nigeria discloses the Africa-based tech startups have raised over $2.9billion, and Nigerian startup firms creating new products, services and platforms have raised $1.7billion of this total capital this year

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

The United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria has said that the the country鈥檚 tech startups attracted $1.7billion in investments 2021, rpresenting 60 percent of the total capital 聽raised by tech startups on the African continent this year.

绿帽献妻 gathered Ms. Mary Beth Leonard, US Ambassador to Nigeria, disclosed this development at the Nigerian Tech Summit.

The envoy noted that three tech unicorns: OPay, Flutterwave and Interswitch, were established and nurtured by Nigerian talents.

Ms. Mary Beth Leonard, US Ambassador to Nigeria

Leonard stressed with the proper support, these indigenous tech firms have enormous potential to do even more in the Nigerian FinTech ecosystem.

She said: 鈥淎frica-based tech startups have raised more than $2.9 billion. Nigerian startups, which are creating new products, services, and platforms, raised $1.7 billion of this total or about 60% of it.鈥�

The US Ambassador furher noted that the continent boasts a total of seven tech 鈥渦nicorns鈥�, or companies valued at over $1billion.

鈥淚 find it very exciting to note that three of these companies 鈥� OPay, Flutterwave, and Interswitch 鈥� are born and bred of Nigerian talent.

鈥淲e firmly believe that Nigeria, with the proper support, has enormous potential to do even more,鈥� Leonard said.

She also stated that the United States would continue to support the Nigerian tech space and try to promote an enabling environment.

The envoy said: 鈥淭he US Mission will continue to do its part to support Nigeria鈥檚 burgeoning tech scene and encourage the creation of enabling environment necessary to foster a sector that will, in turn, launch still more global businesses and contribute to a more prosperous future for all its citizens.

鈥淚 also want you to know that our commitment and support to such key populations within Nigeria was not hindered by the pandemic. We continued to recruit and promote Mandela Washington Fellows.鈥�

Leonard added: 鈥淲e were thrilled this October when Vice-President Osinbajo took the time to engage our most recent cohort of Nigerian fellows, encouraging Nigerian youths to get involved in political processes and effect changes in their communities.鈥�

Kindly Share This Story