The 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition opened in Abuja with a resounding call for collaboration, innovation, and youth empowerment to drive Nigeria’s transformation into a globally competitive digital economy.
The three-day conference, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, brought together over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states, including government officials, industry leaders, innovators, and investors.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy, urging stakeholders across sectors to work together to realise Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to Digital Nigeria 2025, something I consider to be a dialogue, but also collaboration and action towards building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy for our nation,” he said. “This event reminds us of what digital truly means for our past as a people, our present reality, and the future we are striving to build.”
Dr. Tijani described Digital Nigeria as more than a conventional technology conference, calling it “a national platform for dialogue, collaboration, and actionable strategies that will shape the country’s future in the digital era.”
Taking the audience on a reflective journey through Nigeria’s digital history, he noted that the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry in 1999 was a transformative decision that reshaped the nation’s economy.
“Before that policy reform, only a handful of Nigerian families had access to telephones, and making international calls required visiting special centres and waiting in long queues. That decision marked the beginning of a new economy built on ideas and innovation,” he recalled.
He further highlighted that the digital economy now contributes about 18 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a clear evidence of the sector’s growing importance as a driver of growth and diversification.
Dr. Tijani also cited Nigeria’s leadership in financial technology (fintech) innovation, noting that the country’s efficient digital payment systems and thriving startup ecosystem have produced “five of Africa’s nine technology unicorns, companies each valued at over a billion dollars.”
“Today, Nigeria boasts one of the most efficient and responsive payment systems in the world. Transactions that take hours or even days elsewhere are completed instantly here,” he stated, praising the enabling policies and visionary leadership that have positioned Nigeria as a continental innovation leader.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which embeds technology and innovation as key pillars for inclusivity, youth empowerment, and economic diversification, emphasising that “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.”
Inuwa Rallies Nigerian Youth To Lead Africa’s Digital Transformation
In his opening remarks, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, rallied Nigerian youth to take the lead in powering Africa’s digital future, describing them as the nation’s most valuable asset.
He expressed appreciation to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for gracing the event, noting that “his presence is a powerful demonstration that this administration cares deeply about our youth.”
“If we harness the energy, the 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. But if we fail to do that, if we fail to skill our youth, if we fail to provide a platform for them to create value, we are stunting the most valuable asset we have as a nation,” he said.
Highlighting the theme, “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” Inuwa said it aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of economic diversification through digitalisation, industrialisation, and innovation.
He revealed that this year’s conference features 12 keynote sessions, 23 panel discussions, five workshops, and two expert masterclasses across five thematic tracks: digital connectivity; digital public infrastructure and trust; artificial intelligence and emerging technologies; digital trade and innovation; and digital skills and literacy.
“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 affirmed, urging participants to go beyond networking and focus on actionable collaboration.
Olatunji Urges Synergy and Policy Alignment
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of all Chief Executive Officers of parastatals under the Ministry, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, urged stakeholders to unite in unlocking Nigeria’s vast digital potential.
“We must come together, cooperate, and push Nigeria into its rightful place in the global digital economy,” he declared, stressing that collaboration and innovation are essential to achieving global competitiveness.
Dr. Olatunji noted that the global digital economy now connects over 18.8 billion devices serving 8.2 billion people, underscoring the transformative power of technology in business, communication, and governance, describing Nigeria’s youthful, tech-savvy population, 65% of whom are digitally inclined, as a strategic advantage that must be harnessed through platforms like Digital Nigeria.
“Technology is the only language they understand,” he said, calling for synergy across sectors to eliminate fragmentation and maximise impact.
Citing global disruptors like Uber, Booking.com, and Amazon, Dr. Olatunji urged Nigeria to adopt similar innovation-driven business models that create value without owning traditional assets.
He also commended the National Assembly’s public hearing on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, describing it as “a landmark step toward institutionalising Nigeria’s digital transformation.” The bill, he explained, will provide a unified legal framework for digital governance, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions.
While lauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the swift signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, Dr. Olatunji praised Dr. Tijani’s technocratic leadership for uniting stakeholders around a shared vision.
Driving the Future through Collaboration and Action
As the Digital Nigeria Conference 2025 progresses, participants are expected to forge partnerships, exchange ideas, and design implementable solutions to accelerate growth, inclusion, and competitiveness in Nigeria’s digital landscape.
“This is the time to reflect, strategise, and act,” Dr. Tijani concluded. “The vision is clear, a nation built on prosperity, inclusion, and competitiveness, powered by innovation.”