Digital Economy: Nigeria’s Second Chance at Global Relevance — Shettima

‎‎‎‎By Progress Godfrey, Abuja‎‎Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has called on the nation to seize the opportunity presented by the digital revolution to redefine its place in the global economy, describing the digital economy as the country’s “second chance” to achieve relevance, inclusion, and shared prosperity after missing out on earlier industrial revolutions.‎‎Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE 2025), Shettima said the future of Nigeria’s economy depends on its ability to harness digital innovation and its vibrant youth talent base to transform the nation into a global technology hub.‎‎The three-day event, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), brings together key policymakers, innovators, and investors to discuss pathways for sustainable growth through digital transformation.‎‎> “We cannot continue to lament our absence from previous industrial revolutions. The digital era offers us a redemptive opportunity to define our place in the next chapter of global progress,” Shettima said.‎“Digital innovation is not just a youth-led sector — it is the very future of our shared humanity and a sustainable answer to our quest for relevance, opportunity, and transformation.”‎‎‎‎Three Pillars of Nigeria’s Digital Strategy‎‎The Vice President outlined the administration’s digital economy strategy as resting on three pillars: people, infrastructure, and policy.‎He said government is:‎‎Building a robust pipeline of digital talent through the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme;‎‎Expanding broadband connectivity across the country; and‎‎Advancing the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill to foster an enabling environment for innovation and investment.‎‎‎According to Shettima, the digital sector offers Nigeria the strongest platform for economic diversification, creativity, and sustainability, with the potential to empower rural farmers through real-time market data and enable young Nigerians to work remotely for global firms.‎‎He commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, and other agencies for their relentless efforts in driving the national digital agenda.‎‎A Collective Commitment to the Future‎‎Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, echoed the Vice President’s message, stressing that Digital Nigeria represents a collective vision for a prosperous and inclusive future powered by technology.‎‎> “Digital Nigeria is not just an annual conference — it is a call to reflection and strategy,” Tijani said. “It reminds us that technology is central to our past, present, and future as a nation.”‎‎‎‎The minister noted that Nigeria’s digital transformation journey has been built on bold and visionary reforms, beginning with the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 1999, which boosted GDP growth and expanded access to connectivity.‎‎He revealed that the ICT sector now contributes between 16 and 18 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, with projections showing it will soon surpass oil and gas in contribution to the economy.‎‎Major Digital Infrastructure Projects Underway‎‎Dr. Tijani disclosed that Nigeria is leading a World Bank-backed initiative to deliver 90,000 kilometres of open-access fibre infrastructure nationwide — the largest of its kind in any developing country and the biggest digital project in the World Bank’s portfolio.‎‎Additionally, the government plans to install 4,000 new telecom towers to connect over 20 million unserved Nigerians, while investing heavily in artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, and digital governance systems to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a continental leader in digital innovation.‎‎Harnessing Youth Power for National Prosperity‎‎Earlier in his address, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to promoting innovation and digital inclusion in line with President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda.‎‎He said this year’s conference — themed “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth and Inclusion” — aligns with the President’s Eight-Point Priority Agenda, particularly on economic reform and diversification through technology.‎‎Abdullahi revealed that over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states are attending the event, which serves as both a national and international platform for collaboration.‎‎> “We are a nation of over 220 million people, with an average age of 18. If we harness the creativity and talent of our youth, we can power not only Nigeria but the entire African continent into a new era of prosperity,” Abdullahi said.‎“But if we fail to provide a platform for them to create value, we risk squander