The push to position Nigeria as a globally competitive innovation-driven economy will take centre stage at the NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference, where key players across the technology, telecommunications, and innovation ecosystem will deliberate on practical strategies for accelerating scientific advancement and digital inclusion.
NITRA is the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology as it relates to all sectors in Nigeria.
The NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2026, in Ikeja, Lagos, will focus on the theme, “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation,” bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, researchers, and technology stakeholders to explore how science and innovation can drive sustainable national development.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will lead discussions at the conference alongside other delegates, with participants expected to chart actionable pathways towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness through innovation and scientific breakthroughs.
Among the organisations that have confirmed their partnership with NITRA for the event are leading mobile communications brand Tecno, Africa’s premier end-to-end AI solutions company Hyperspace, and telecommunications data infrastructure company Digital Realty, underscoring growing private sector commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Speaking ahead of the proposed event, the Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Chike Onwuegbuchi, noted that the event will seek to create a platform for government and private organisations to deliberate on policies around scientific innovations in Nigeria, challenges, the place of indigenous and foreign collaboration, roles of each stakeholder, and grassroots development in that regard, among others.
According to him: “The Federal government, with a series of programmes and partnerships, has established the urgent need to create an ecosystem that thrives on scientific innovation, breeding institutions and individuals with a target of placing the country at the forefront of Next-Gen development.
“It is a known fact that digital and scientific innovations are crucial, not only to the survivability of a nation, but also to the sustainability of its growth and development, with significant effects on economic strength, global image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, public health and safety, communication and digital footprint, among others.”
The federal government is actively driving scientific innovation to foster economic diversification and build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Efforts are heavily focused on commercializing research, establishing massive research funds, and funding strategic infrastructure, particularly in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare.
Core government initiatives and policies include the newly instituted National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which aims to mobilize about $500 million annually to support research and the commercialization of scientific outputs, and the Nigeria Genomic City, a multi-ministerial initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading hub for genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology. It is designed to protect indigenous data, stimulate artificial intelligence in health, and develop a highly skilled scientific workforce.
General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, noted that the forum will also be a vehicle for propagating the views of decision makers to the public, thereby furthering the cause of public awareness and information dissemination on the topic.
The focus, he said, will be on how Nigeria can sustain digital innovative growth and scientific development in Nigeria