Finland Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, third from the right. Photo: Finland Embassy Nigeria
Elegbede Abiodun
“Finland’s development and training company, HAUS, will lead the implementation in partnership with Estonia’s development agency, ESTDEV, bringing together European expertise in digital government and public-sector innovation.”
The Government of Finland has announced it will lead a €23 million Team Europe Initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital public services and supporting the rollout of the 3 Million Technical Talent programme.
The initiative, funded by the European Union, will be implemented by Finland’s development and training company HAUS in partnership with Estonia’s development agency ESTDEV, the Finnish ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, revealed.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Maria Ruuskanen, for the Embassy, the initiative forms part of the EU–Nigeria Digital Economy Package under the Global Gateway strategy, designed to enhance digital governance and skills.
The programme will focus on expanding access to secure, interoperable and citizen-centred public services, while also strengthening institutional capacity and governance frameworks in Nigeria, the statement said.
The statement said the move is aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030) and the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
“Finland’s development and training company, HAUS, will lead the implementation in partnership with Estonia’s development agency, ESTDEV, bringing together European expertise in digital government and public-sector innovation.”
The initiative, titled “Support to Digital Public Services and Talent Management”, is valued at EUR 23 million and fully funded by the European Union. It forms part of the EU–Nigeria Digital Economy Package under the Global Gateway strategy and is aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020–2030 and the Ministry’s strategic priorities (2023–2027), in close cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,” the statement said.
According to the Embassy of Finland in Abuja, the initiative will also support the implementation of the 3MTT programme, a flagship government project aimed at developing a pool of technical talent across the country.
Speaking on the development, Selin said the collaboration reflects Finland’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“Finland has a long and proven track record in secure digital governance, interoperability, and citizen-centric public services. By bringing this expertise into the Team Europe Initiative, we are committed to supporting Nigeria in developing interoperable digital public services that meet the highest EU standards,” the envoy said.
Selin added that the partnership would help strengthen cybersecurity and data protection practices, build institutional capacity, and expand inclusive digital access for citizens and businesses.
She noted that the initiative is expected to improve public service delivery, boost trust in government institutions, and unlock new economic opportunities for Nigerians, while fostering a more transparent and innovation-driven digital ecosystem.
