In order to improve Nigeria's standing in the global digital arena and guarantee that the nation reaps the benefits of digital transformation, the Federal Government has announced intentions to invest N12 billion in research projects related to the digital economy. This was announced on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practices of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) in Abuja by Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) organized the four-day event with the topic "Shaping the Future of Digital Governance Through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion."
Dr. Tijani stated that the funding would be directed toward three major research clusters, each hosted by six colleges around the country.
“The Nigerian government is not just doing this as a show because immediately after ICEGOV last year, we funded over 55 research projects.
“At the moment, we are putting together about N12 billion to fund further research projects that are focused on the digital economy.
“We are setting up three research clusters of six universities, each one focused on artificial intelligence, and another focused on the biggest issue in our nation today, which is connectivity, where we are investing significantly.
“Thirdly, because of our population, we are also funding another research cluster that is focused on digital skills and literacy,” he said.
According to him, the project aims to strengthen Nigeria's research capability and lay the groundwork for equitable digital development.
Tijani emphasized that digital technologies are now vital to human growth, and that no country can achieve sustainable development without embracing them.
He said forums like ICEGOV assist countries in exploring emerging technologies responsibly and shaping policies that combine innovation with societal requirements, and that Nigeria's successful participation in the 2024 edition earned it the opportunity to host in 2025.
The Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, stated that the Federal Government has finalized plans to incorporate digital literacy into Nigeria's school curriculum beginning in 2026.
He noted that the project is part of the Federal Government's overall Knowledge Policy and Digital Literacy Framework.
Inuwa also stated that government ministries, departments, and agencies are being equipped to guarantee that public servants learn digital skills in order to provide better service.
