Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria must seize the moment to redefine its place in the global economy, describing the digital economy as the nation’s second chance to achieve relevance, inclusion, and prosperity after missing out on past industrial revolutions.
Shettima said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE 2025), a three-day event hosted by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The conference brings together key players, innovators, and policymakers to discuss strategies for driving sustainable growth through digital transformation.
He said Nigeria’s economic future lies in digital innovation, adding that the country is blessed with one of the world’s most vibrant talent pools capable of transforming its economy and positioning it as a global technology hub. According to him, the Tinubu administration’s ongoing reforms are already restoring investor confidence and laying the foundation for inclusive digital growth.
“We cannot keep lamenting our absence as a people in the previous industrial revolutions. This digital web offers us a redemptive opportunity, an opportunity to define on our own terms in the next chapter of global progress.
“Digital innovation offers us a highway to reach our destination. It is not only a youth-led sector; it is the very future of our shared humanity. This is a sustainable and inclusive answer to our quest for relevance, opportunity, and transformation,” Shettima said.
The Vice President emphasised that the government’s digital strategy rests on three pillars: people, infrastructure, and policy, noting that the administration is building a robust pipeline of digital talent through the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, expanding broadband connectivity nationwide, and advancing the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill to create an enabling environment for innovation.
Shettima also pointed out that digital transformation will enable inclusive participation across all sectors, from farmers in rural areas accessing real-time market data to young Nigerians working remotely for global companies.
He described the sector as the nation’s strongest tool for diversification, creativity, and sustainability, while commending the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, and other agencies for their relentless efforts.
Delivering a keynote speech, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, re-echoed the Vice President’s position on the digital revolution, saying the conference symbolises a collective commitment to building a prosperous and inclusive future powered by technology and innovation.
He said Digital Nigeria is more than an annual gathering but a national call to reflection and strategy on how technology can power economic growth, inclusion, and competitiveness.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s digital journey has been shaped by bold reforms and visionary leadership, from the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 1999 to current initiatives transforming the economy.
Hey said, “Digital Nigeria for me is more than just a conference. It is a gathering that reminds us of what digital truly means for our past, present, and future as a nation. This is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and strategise together on how to deliver our shared vision of prosperity and inclusion powered through technology and innovation.
“Historically, Nigeria’s digital story is one of courageous decisions. The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 1999 opened a new era of growth, moving Nigeria’s GDP growth average from about 3 percent to over 5 percent. Before then, only a few families had access to telephone lines. Today, connectivity is almost universal,” he added.
Tijani highlighted that the ICT sector currently contributes between 16 and 18 percent to the nation’s GDP and is projected to soon surpass oil and gas. He revealed that Nigeria is now leading a World Bank-backed project to deliver 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre across the country, the largest of its kind in any developing nation, and the biggest digital project in the World Bank’s portfolio.
The minister also disclosed that the government plans to install 4,000 new telecommunication towers to connect 20 million Nigerians currently without access to mobile services, while also investing in artificial intelligence and data infrastructure to position Nigeria as a continental leader in digital research and governance.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to driving innovation and digital inclusion in line with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda. He noted that this year’s conference, themed “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth and Inclusion”, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight priority areas, particularly the focus on economic reform and diversification through digitalisation and innovation.
He revealed that the event has drawn over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 states across Nigeria, describing it as both national and international in scope. According to him, the gathering aims to “cross-pollinate ideas” within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and strengthen ties with the global innovation community.
Abdullahi emphasised the urgency of harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential, warning that the nation’s youthful population could either become its greatest strength or most pressing challenge.
“We are a nation of over 220 million people and the average age is 18 years. If we harness the energy, creativity, and talent of our youth, we can power not just Nigeria but the entire Africa into a new era of prosperity. But if we fail to provide a platform for them to create value, we are squandering our most precious asset as a nation,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to Shettima for gracing the event, describing his presence as a strong signal of the administration’s genuine commitment to youth empowerment.
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