… Collaboration Key to Building Inclusive Digital Economy, Say Tijani
… Inuwa to Youth: Nigeria Can Power Africa’s Digital Future
… Olatunji Urges Stakeholders to Unite in Harnessing Nigeria’s Digital Potential
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria is on the verge of a historic transformation as the Federal Government advances efforts to pass the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill into law.
Shettima disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open the 2025 edition of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, themed “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness.”
Describing the proposed legislation as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion digital economy, the Vice President said the bill represents more than just reform—it is “a strategic leap toward embedding technology into the fabric of governance, economic planning, and national development.”
“Just as the cashless policy unlocked the fintech revolution, this new bill will unlock the govtech revolution, an era of smarter governance, greater transparency, and inclusive service delivery,” Shettima declared.
He noted that the bill is part of a broader national strategy aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global leader in digital innovation, with transformative potential across all sectors. Complementary initiatives, he said, include integrating digital literacy into school curricula, digitising the informal sector, and developing world-class expertise through the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme.
The Vice President further highlighted key infrastructure projects such as the Broadband Superhighway and the Bridge and 7-7-4 Initiatives, designed to extend high-speed connectivity nationwide. “Equitable access to digital infrastructure is not just fairness—it is the foundation of national competitiveness,” he added.
On policy, Shettima lauded Nigeria’s fintech achievements, noting that the new bill would establish a unified legal framework for digital governance, e-transactions, and cybersecurity, while strengthening institutions like NITDA, NCC, and the NDPC.
He envisioned a future where farmers access real-time market data, rural women work remotely for global firms, and graduates emerge as digital innovators. Declaring the conference open, Shettima urged participants to contribute meaningfully to shaping Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“Digital innovation must drive opportunity, inclusion, and prosperity for all Nigerians,” he affirmed.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a sustainable and globally competitive digital economy.
Speaking at the same event, Tijani described Digital Nigeria 2025 as a national platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action toward transforming Nigeria’s economic future through technology.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s digital journey, he noted that the liberalisation of the telecoms sector in 1999 catalysed the nation’s digital revolution, one that now contributes about 18 per cent of GDP.
“Today, Nigeria boasts one of the most efficient and responsive payment systems in the world,” Tijani said, crediting visionary leadership and enabling policies for producing five of Africa’s nine tech unicorns.
He emphasised that Digital Nigeria 2025 is “about people, not technology for its own sake”, calling for shared responsibility in ensuring every Nigerian can benefit from the digital future.
“This is the time to reflect, strategise, and act. The vision is clear: a nation built on prosperity, inclusion, and competitiveness, powered by innovation,” he concluded.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, urged Nigerian youth to lead Africa’s digital transformation.
Addressing over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 states at the conference, Inuwa said Nigeria’s young population, averaging 18 years of age, remains its most valuable asset.
“If we harness the creativity and energy of our youth, we won’t just power Nigeria; we will power Africa into a new era of prosperity,” he said.
The NITDA DG revealed that this year’s event features 12 keynote sessions, 23 panel discussions, five workshops, and two masterclasses across five thematic tracks: digital connectivity, public infrastructure and trust, artificial intelligence, digital trade and innovation, and digital skills.
He urged participants to view the conference as more than a networking platform but as a catalyst for tangible collaboration.
“Every handshake, every dialogue, and every deal made here should be driven by one conviction: Nigeria can do it—and we will do it,” Inuwa declared.
The National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, has called on stakeholders in the country’s digital ecosystem to collaborate in unlocking Nigeria’s immense opportunities in the digital economy.
Dr Olatunji made the call while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of all Chief Executive Officers of parastatals under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy at the opening of the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
He said Nigeria stands at a defining moment where collaboration, innovation, and strategic partnerships are essential to achieving global competitiveness in the digital space.
Highlighting the rapid expansion of the global digital economy, Dr Olatunji revealed that over 18.8 billion connected devices are currently serving a world population of 8.2 billion, a clear indicator of the transformative power of technology across business, communication, and governance.
He emphasised that Nigeria possesses both the human and material resources to become a digital leader but must overcome the challenge of fragmentation through synergy among key sectors.
Describing the nation’s youthful population, 65 per cent of whom are tech-savvy, as a major advantage, Olatunji noted, “Technology is the only language they understand.” He urged that platforms such as the Digital Nigeria Conference should be used to channel the creativity and energy of young Nigerians toward innovation and positive disruption.
Citing global disruptors like Uber, Booking.com, and Amazon, he said Nigeria must adopt similar technology-driven models that create value without necessarily owning physical assets.
Dr Olatunji also hailed the recent public hearing on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill as a milestone toward institutionalising digital transformation in Nigeria. He explained that the bill would provide a unified legal framework for digital governance, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions, positioning the nation for measurable impact globally.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his early commitment to the tech sector, demonstrated by the swift signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, Olatunji also lauded the leadership of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, for his technocratic approach and ability to rally stakeholders around a common vision.
He concluded by urging all participants to embrace collaboration, innovation, and disruption as tools to drive national progress.
“We must come together, cooperate, and push Nigeria into its rightful place in the global digital economy,” he said, expressing optimism that the outcomes of the three-day conference would shape the nation’s digital future.
The conference was attended by a distinguished array of stakeholders, including Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Kashifu Inua Abdullahi, Director General and CEO of NITDA; Dr Aminu Wada, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC; Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO of the NDPC; Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission; and Engineer Margaret Aina Oguntola, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Also present were members of the diplomatic corps, service chiefs, heads of paramilitary agencies, senior government officials, and leaders from academia and industry.
The Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025, organised by NITDA under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, continues to serve as the nation’s premier platform for charting the course of digital transformation, fostering innovation, and strengthening partnerships across the public and private sectors.
