Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Africa’s digital transformation through research, innovation, and collaborative governance, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the nation’s strategic priorities on digitalisation, economic reform, and good governance.
This reaffirmation was made at the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. The conference, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion,” was chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, alongside Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Leading Nigeria’s delegation, Dr. Tijani, alongside the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, reiterated the country’s readiness to champion digital governance across Africa.
In his keynote address, Dr. Tijani emphasised the need to balance innovation, research, and regulation, noting that digital technologies must serve the public good and promote social inclusion.“Nigeria stands at the intersection of innovation, youth, and digital transformation. Our responsibility is to ensure that innovation is guided by ethics, inclusivity, and the public interest,” he said.
He introduced the “Source Balance Ratio” — a conceptual model for ensuring that policymaking is informed by research, ethics, and collaboration among government, academia, civil society, and the private sector.
Prof. Marwala, in his address, called for the responsible and inclusive development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must serve all humanity equally.
“Artificial intelligence must be designed so that it does not leave anyone behind. It will remain suboptimal until it works equally for all people, including Africans,” he stated.
He urged policymakers to view AI not only as a tool of progress but also as a moral responsibility that demands cooperation across nations and sectors.
NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa described ICEGOV 2025 as a milestone in Nigeria’s digital journey, crediting the initiative to Dr. Tijani’s vision for a research-driven digital economy. He outlined several national digital initiatives, including the National Digital Literacy Framework, integration of digital literacy into school curricula, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and nationwide campaigns to empower citizens with essential digital skills.
“Digital transformation is not just about technology; it’s about improving how we serve our citizens. Governance must meet people where they are — and today, that’s online,” Inuwa said.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s progress in building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI to strengthen the country’s digital governance architecture.
Distinguished guests at the event included the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack (represented by Mrs. Fatima S.T. Mahmood); Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu; and Chairman, House Committee on ICT, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, among others.
They lauded Nigeria’s visionary leadership in hosting ICEGOV 2025 and reaffirmed the nation’s role as a driving force for ethical, inclusive, and evidence-based digital governance in Africa.
Speakers collectively emphasised that Nigeria’s continued success in digital transformation depends on sustained collaboration, institutional capacity building, and resilient public infrastructure that promote transparency, innovation, and trust.
The ICEGOV conference, established in 2007 by the United Nations University, remains a premier global platform uniting governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector to shape the future of digital governance for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
