Korea has promised to support Nigeria on the deployment of the Fifth Generation Technology 5G early next year.
The assistance is in addition to $13 million it would commit to the second phase of its capacity building programmes through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Already $8.5 million has been spent on the first phase of the eGovernment programme which include capacity building, establishing Digital Training Centres in Schools and cities of Nigeria and supporting eGovernance infrastructures.
Korean Ambassador in Nigeria, Kim Young Chae who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria remains the number one focus of Korea in Africa due to its large economy and population.
Ambassador Chae spoke with reporters shortly after addressing participants of Korea-Nigeria-Cameroun eGovernment Workshop and Knowledge Exchange Programme at the Civil Service Training Institute, Kubwa, Abuja.
He said his country would support the deployment of 5G technology in view of the vast opportunities it would create for Nigeria and Korea, stressing that Korean electronics giant such as Samsung and LG among other would further leverage the technology.
Ambassador Chae said: “We have invested in two major areas, education and digital economy. We have supported Nigeria Middle schools and Higher schools in terms of training and provision of infrastructures. My Government wants to share experiences of our development on eGovernment and ICT with Nigeria.
“This is necessary because Nigeria is the most populous country, the most important economic country in Africa so we believe that where Nigeria goes, the rest of Africa will follow.
We have in the last 10 years partnered with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications. And therefore if Nigeria decides on which country’s 5G they want introduce, Korea will support and enter the field with its own companies.
We have Samsung, LG and others with other competitors. “
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Bitrus Nabasu said part of the eGovernment projects with KOICA are provision of training in various eGovernment subjects for 22,000 public servants, construction of an ultra-modern eGovernment training centre in Abuja and development of Nigeria eGovernment Master Plan.
