The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria is seeking to deepen business, technology and investment ties with MTN Nigeria as both countries look to expand commercial cooperation.
The development followed a visit by a Canadian delegation led by David Sproule, Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria, to MTN Nigeria’s headquarters in Lagos.
During the engagement, Canadian officials explored potential areas where Canadian businesses and institutions could collaborate with MTN Nigeria, particularly in technology, telecommunications, investment and skills development.
Sproule said Canada’s renewed Africa strategy places greater emphasis on commercial trade, foreign direct investment and stronger economic partnerships across the continent.
He said Canada was interested in identifying opportunities where its expertise in technology and telecommunications could support mutual growth with Nigerian businesses.
The discussions also covered potential cooperation in workforce development and education, including partnerships between Nigerian companies and Canadian universities, colleges and technical institutions.
Other areas identified for possible collaboration included healthcare, education, creative industries, sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
MTN Nigeria’s Chief Operations Officer, Ayham Moussa, said the company had evolved beyond traditional telecommunications into a broader digital services business, supported by investments in technology and infrastructure.
The company’s Chief Financial Officer, Modupe Kadri, also said the engagement came as MTN Nigeria seeks to expand its international partnerships beyond traditional markets.
Kadri said the company was interested in exploring collaboration with Canadian companies with relevant technical expertise while broadening its partnerships across North America, Europe and Asia.
The engagement comes as Nigeria and Canada continue efforts to strengthen their wider economic relationship. Recent bilateral developments include the signing of an air services agreement and discussions around a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement.
For MTN Nigeria, deeper links with Canadian businesses could provide additional opportunities for technology partnerships, skills development and investment as the company expands its role in Nigeria’s digital economy.
