President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the digital economy as a key driver of youth empowerment and job creation in Nigeria.
The President made this pledge yesterday in Abuja while receiving a report from participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The report, titled “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,” outlines key recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The 96 participants of the course put forward an eight-point recommendation to the federal government. They called for the fast-tracking of the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2024 to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
They also urged state governments to waive Right of Way fees, which would facilitate the deployment of telecoms infrastructure.
Additionally, they recommended that the President issue an Executive Order mandating all MDAs to migrate to the OneGov.ng portal, ensuring seamless digital governance.
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They advocated for adopting the Quintuple-Helix Model, which would enhance the digital economy and drive sustainable job creation.
To support skill development, they emphasized the need for long-term funding for the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) scheme, which aims to build a skilled digital workforce.
They also stressed the importance of accelerating Nigeria’s transition from IPv4 to IPv6, a move critical for expanding internet capacity and security.
Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of Digital Health Innovation Hubsacross Nigeria to improve healthcare delivery through technology.
They recommended developing a preventive maintenance application for the automotive industry, which would enhance vehicle maintenance efficiency and road safety.
In response, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to collaborate with relevant government bodies to ensure the recommendations are properly implemented.
He emphasised the importance of innovation and digital skills development in securing economic prosperity for young Nigerians.
“At the core of our administration is youth empowerment. We cannot relent on that, and we need everyone’s collaboration”, Tinubu said.
He commended the NIPSS participants for their research and acknowledged the report’s insights into government agency overlaps.
“As Nigeria’s foremost policy think tank, you have highlighted the overlap of some government agencies, and we’ll look at that. You are an asset to our country, and I thank the participants for their dedication to their studies. We will continue to collaborate with you for the prosperity of our country,” he added.
President Tinubu also highlighted the importance of data-driven national planning, revealing that he had earlier met with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC) to discuss the upcoming national census.
Speaking at the event, Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of NIPSS, underscored the need for Nigeria to leverage its youthful population in the digital space.
“We recognize that in an era where technology drives innovation, Nigeria must aggressively leverage its youthful population to build a thriving ecosystem. The opportunities are boundless, from Fintech to Agri-Tech, E-Commerce to Artificial Intelligence,” Omotayo stated.
However, he noted key challenges hindering growth, including infrastructure deficits, inadequate digital skills, and regulatory bottlenecks.
He urged the government to implement targeted policies that foster a supportive environment for startups, improve access to financing, and expand broadband connectivity.
Providing updates on Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed that the bill is currently before the National Assembly and will undergo public hearings in all 36 states and the FCT before its expected passage in the second quarter of 2025.
“11 states have so far agreed to waive Right of Way fees, with efforts ongoing to ensure full compliance nationwide. Nigeria is on track to become one of the first African nations to fully transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
“The federal government has approved a $2 billion investment into a 90,000-kilometre fibre optic network, making it the third-largest in Africa after South Africa and Egypt.”
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Tijani disclosed that the broadband project is progressing well, with financial backing from the Ministry of Finance and a $500 million World Bank commitment.
Speaking on Nigeria’s economic outlook, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, noted that the ICT sector contributed 16% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024.
He reaffirmed the government’s focus on technology-driven job creation and strategic investments in the sector.
Edun also referenced President Tinubu’s recent meeting with the CEO of Flutterwave, where the company pledged to support Nigerian youth and SMEs through technology-driven solutions.
He hinted at Flutterwave’s potential listing on Nigeria’s Stock Exchange, a move expected to further strengthen the country’s tech and payments ecosystem.
