Abuja, March 4, 2024 – Nigeria and other developing countries are to benefit from a £37.3 million support for the Mobile for Development Programme by the UK Government.
The British High Commission in Abuja announced this in a statement on Monday.
The statement said the UK’s Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell announced the funding support at the 2024 Mobile World Congress.
The fund is expected to help more people access mobile and digital technologies to find new opportunities and boost their livelihoods.
The programme, which the UK funds in partnership with the UK-based mobile industry association, GSMA, and the private sector, has already benefitted more than 100 million people and focuses on women and girls, climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience, and scaling up innovative solutions.
Andrew Mitchell said that entrepreneurs would receive new support from the programme to develop innovative mobile technology to help tackle development challenges around the world.
“Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionize the lives of the poor by helping tackle the effects of climate change, creating jobs and boosting opportunities for women.
“The Mobile for Development program has already benefitted more than 100 million people, and the UK’s new announcement aims to up the ambition, reaching 110 million additional people, including 60 million women.
“Together the worlds of development and mobile tech giants can be a powerful force to unlock opportunities and prosperity, and meet the UN Global Goals,” he said.
In Nigeria, the programme will help in harnessing AI technology to provide real-time agricultural advice to farmers and providing them with pay-as-you-go solar-powered fridges.
John Giusti, the President of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, said: “For more than a decade, the FCDO and the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation have worked closely in partnership to drive socio-economic and climate impact for the most underserved populations through digital innovation, and to date our partnership has improved the lives of more than 127 million people.
“Today’s renewal of our partnership will further amplify our joint impact by leveraging the power of digital and emerging technologies to support innovation, improve access to opportunities for women, and tackle the effects of climate change for the most vulnerable.” (GBN)
