The 2025 edition of the Digital Nigeria International Conference opened with one of its most anticipated sessions, a high-level fireside chat between Dr. Bayero Agabi and Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the session attracted the largest audience of the event’s opening day, setting the tone for three days of intensive engagement, learning, and strategic collaboration.
The fireside chat, moderated by Dr. Agabi, one of Africa’s most decorated ICT journalists, focused on the rising importance of data sovereignty, a theme that resonated deeply with policymakers, innovators, and technology stakeholders seeking to secure Nigeria’s place in the global digital economy.
The session formed a key part of the main event, which also featured remarks from Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, both of whom underscored the urgency of building a resilient and inclusive digital future for Nigeria.
A Conference Seen as a Turning Point
Described by many as a “game changer,” Digital Nigeria 2025 brought together over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states, a reflection of its growing influence as the nation’s premier technology convergence point.
With the theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” the conference aligned directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes digitalisation, industrialisation, and innovation as catalysts for economic diversification.
Key Highlights from Digital Nigeria 2025
- Unlocking Digital Economy Potential
Vice President Kashim Shettima described Nigeria’s digital economy as the nation’s “second chance at global relevance,” noting that the ICT sector already contributes 16–18% to Nigeria’s GDP. - Empowering the Next Generation
NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa challenged young Nigerians to take the lead in shaping Africa’s digital transformation, describing the country’s youthful, tech-savvy population as its strongest strategic asset. - Scaling Digital Infrastructure
The government unveiled plans to deploy 4,000 new telecom towers, connect 20 million additional Nigerians, and ramp up investments in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and data frameworks. - Strengthening Digital Governance
The National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, now progressing through the National Assembly, seeks to create a unified legal architecture for digital governance, cybersecurity, data protection, and electronic transactions.
A Robust Multi-Track Knowledge Exchange
This year’s conference delivered:
- 12 keynote sessions
- 23 panel discussions
- 5 workshops
- 2 expert masterclasses
These were organised across five thematic tracks:
- Digital Connectivity
- Digital Public Infrastructure and Trust
- Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
- Digital Trade and Innovation
- Digital Skills and Literacy
Dr. Bayero Agabi: A Veteran at the Forefront of Africa’s Digital Story
The fireside chat host, Dr. Bayero Agabi is widely recognized as one of Africa’s leading ICT journalists and advocates.
With over 154 national and international awards, he remains the only African journalist to win the UNECA/AISI Award for balanced reporting and research.
Dr. Agabi is the vice president, Nigeria Internet Group; president, Centre for Cyber Awareness and Development (CECAD); founder of Digivation Network, Nigeria’s first ICT TV programme; chairman, Green Summit Africa; author of Nigeria Digital Heroes and The Nigeria Digital Promise: A Bridge Yet to Cross, and publisher of Cyber Africa Magazine and Enterprise Africa Magazine
His leadership and industry pedigree brought depth and clarity to the conversation on data sovereignty, one of the most pressing issues for Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.