Mark is back. In Nigeria, that is.
One day after he left Lagos for Nairobi to “learn about mobile money“, Zuckerberg is back in Nigeria to meet the country’s president Muhammadu Buhari and vice president, Yemi Osinbajo. Zuckerberg has also been attending a start-up demo day hosted by the country’s presidency.
The Aso Villa Demo Day is hosted by Nigeria’s vice-president in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital as thirty start-ups get a chance to pitch innovative tech ideas. A government initiative, the demo day focuses on ”promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and economic growth through the use of new and emerging technologies.”
President Buhari said he was impressed by Zuckerberg, a 32-year old billionaire who almost never makes any obvious displays of wealth beyond his foundation work. “I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income,” according to Nigeria’s Premium Times newspaper.
While being part of a string of global town hall meetings, Zuckerberg’s trip across Africa’s leading technology ecosystems is a nod to the rapid growth in potential and importance of African start-ups.