Nigeria is moving closer to achieving a fully digital and inclusive economy as government leaders, policymakers, and innovators gathered in Abuja for the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025.
The annual event, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), brought together more than 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 states to discuss strategies for building a sustainable digital future.
The three-day conference, themed “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops focused on digital skills, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, and policy reforms aimed at boosting Nigeria’s position as Africa’s digital hub.
Shettima: New Digital Economy Bill Will Unlock ‘GovTech Revolution’
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who officially opened the conference, said the government was finalising the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, describing it as a major step toward embedding technology in governance and economic planning.
He said the new legislation would serve as a foundation for smarter governance and greater transparency, comparing its potential impact to the cashless policy that spurred Nigeria’s fintech boom.
“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,” the Vice President said.
According to him, the bill will also strengthen digital institutions such as NITDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), ensuring that innovation is backed by strong cybersecurity and regulatory frameworks.
Shettima said the bill forms part of the administration’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy powered by digital innovation. He noted that projects such as the Broadband Superhighway and the Bridge and 7-7-4 initiatives are ongoing to provide nationwide internet access.
He further highlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme and plans to integrate digital literacy into school curricula as key drivers of youth empowerment and job creation.
Calling the youth “the lifewire of our nation,” Shettima urged them to take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the digital economy.
“You are the innovators, the disruptors, the dreamers who turn possibilities into profits,” he said. “The language of our long-term stability is digital.”
Tijani: Digital Nigeria Is About People, Not Just Technology
In his keynote address, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to build a digital economy that is inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive.
He described the Digital Nigeria Conference as more than a technology gathering, but a platform for collaboration and practical action.
“Digital Nigeria 2025 is not about technology for its own sake. It’s about people — ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of background or location, can benefit from and contribute to our digital future,” the Minister said.
Dr. Tijani recalled that the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 1999 marked the beginning of a digital revolution that continues to transform the economy. Before that reform, he said, very few Nigerians had access to telephones, but today, mobile connectivity has reshaped how people live, work, and connect.
He noted that the digital economy now contributes about 18 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has produced five of Africa’s nine technology unicorns, each valued at over a billion dollars.
The Minister praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for making innovation and technology key pillars of economic diversification, youth empowerment, and national inclusion.
He urged participants to use the conference to exchange ideas and build partnerships that would translate into real solutions.
“This is the time to reflect, strategise, and act,” he said. “The vision is clear — a nation built on prosperity, inclusion, and competitiveness powered by innovation.”
Inuwa: Nigerian Youth Can Power Africa’s Digital Transformation
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, called on Nigerian youth to take the lead in driving Africa’s digital future, describing them as the country’s greatest resource.
“If we harness the energy, creativity, and talent of our youth, we are not just going to power Nigeria, but we can power the entire Africa into a new era of prosperity,” Inuwa said.
He explained that the Digital Nigeria Conference provides a unique opportunity to connect government, industry, and academia for policy alignment and innovation.
This year’s edition, he noted, featured 12 keynote sessions, 23 panel discussions, five workshops, and two masterclasses across five thematic tracks — digital connectivity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, digital public infrastructure and trust, digital trade and innovation, and digital skills and literacy.
Inuwa urged participants to go beyond conversations and take actionable steps toward building a strong digital ecosystem.
“Every handshake, every dialogue, and every deal made here should be driven by one conviction — Nigeria can do it, and we will do it,” he declared.
A Shared Commitment to Digital Transformation
The 2025 edition of the Digital Nigeria Conference underscored a unified commitment among government leaders and stakeholders to make Nigeria a leading digital economy on the continent.
From policy reforms and infrastructure expansion to youth empowerment and innovation funding, the discussions in Abuja reflected a national drive to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s digital journey.
As Vice President Shettima, Minister Tijani, and NITDA DG Inuwa each emphasized in their remarks, Nigeria’s future lies in technology — not only as a tool for efficiency but as the engine for inclusion, growth, and global competitiveness.
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