The need for emerging markets to key into digital transactions as global economic growth at this time is coming more from the digital transactions than from digital economies which is apt to profit nations now and in the future has been stressed by the Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

He spoke in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), after attending the ninth edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), themed, “Mapping the Future of Foreign Direct Investment: Enriching World Economies through Digital Globalization”.

The governor also disclosed that in the bid to make the state an innovation hub, they are partnering with technology companies, principally with MainOne Cable Company and Facebook – both of whom have invested $20m for the development of terrestrial fiber infrastructure in the state. This, he said, is aimed at positioning Edo State as the digital hub for the South South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

Obaseki said: “Today, we have an innovation hub, we are partnering with technology companies. But what is even more important is that we are working with Facebook and MainOne. We are constructing about 400 kilometers of fiber in Edo as we speak. In the next couple of months, it should be ready for commissioning. Don’t forget that we also have energy, we have a lot of oil and gas and therefore we are building power plants, outside Azura, we are also building another 55 megawatts of power. With electricity and fiber, we are 50 percent there. All we need to do presently is to get the content providers, get our educational system to be in tune as Facebook and MainOne have invested in excess of $20m in the project.”

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