INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
UK to aid vulnerable Nigerian
families access vital services
through their mobile phones
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and prosperous future because when Nigeria
prospers, Africa, the UK and the world prosper.”
The partnership with GSMA builds on
UK aid programmes to boost digital and
financial inclusion for women. A programme
in Swahili has led to the development of
Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby, which
is a free text message service for pregnant
women, mothers with newborns and their
supporters. Subscribers receive messages
covering topics from prevention of
mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS,
family planning, malaria prevention and
postpartum care.
M
During the visit, Minister Baldwin also met
female entrepreneurs improving the livelihoods
of some of the most vulnerable families in
Nigeria, from very small-scale rural farmers
from the North, to heads of industry in Lagos.
illions of Nigerians are set to
benefit from innovative global
mobile technology that helps
to provide access to vital services for the
poorest communities. The lack of clean affordable power limits
development, so UK aid has supported the
development of a ready-pay power system
which can be paid in instalments using
mobile phones. The news was announced by Harriet
Baldwin, the UK’s Minister for Africa during
a two-day visit to the country. It’s estimated
that 2.5 billion people in developing
countries are still without mobile Internet,
which is challenging for communities who
need access to a range of essential services
such as clean energy, water and sanitation
as well as government services such as
birth registration. Visiting Abuja and Lagos,
Minister Baldwin announced a £38 million
partnership to support mobile technology
trade body, the GSMA, improve access to
essential digital services to over 26 million
people around the world over the next three-
and-a-half years. Energy company Lumos, working in
partnership with Nigeran telecoms provider
MTN, created and manufactured a solar
power system that allows the 40% of
Nigerians without access to electricity, to get
access and pay via their mobile. Nigeria is Africa’s biggest country by
population and its largest economy. While
visiting a UK aid supported ENGINE II
school in Abuja, Minister Baldwin also heard
how girls are being given the opportunity
to develop life skills and empower them as
future leaders.
“It was great to return to Nigeria; it is a
country of tremendous opportunity, but
I know it has significant challenges,” said
Minister Baldwin. She also visited the Cassa Nova’s Factory
which exports its cassava crisps around the
world – including the UK where they are
stocked in some Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
“The UK is working as Nigeria’s longest
partner and friend to overcome those
challenges and deliver for its citizens. Bilateral trade between Nigeria and the
UK reached £5.5 billion in 2018 and has
potential to grow significantly.
“From providing lifesaving humanitarian
assistance to those caught in the North East
conflict, cracking down on corruption and
money-laundering, to harnessing the power
of innovation and technology, the UK is
helping ensure Nigeria has a bright, stable Minister Baldwin also met with the Nigerian
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Lagos
State Deputy-Governor to discuss improving
trade and investment links, fighting poverty
and a shared interest in developing a
prosperous Nigeria. n
In Nigeria alone, the Mobile for
Development partnership has supported
mobile-enabled solar technology to help
keep families in rural areas safe by allowing
off-grid homes to have access to electricity.
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