At the heart of Abuja’s buzzing conference hall, filled with the hum of anticipation and the glow of digital screens, Dr. Vincent Olatunji stepped to the podium with a message that cut through the noise, a call for unity, innovation, and purpose in shaping Nigeria’s digital destiny.
Representing the CEOs of all parastatals under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) spoke at the opening of the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference, a gathering of visionaries and innovators determined to redefine Africa’s digital landscape.
Dr. Olatunji reminded the audience that the world is already deep into the digital era, where 18.8 billion connected devices serve a global population of just 8.2 billion people. “That’s more devices than humans,” he said, underscoring how technology now shapes everything, from commerce to communication, from governance to growth.
Yet, amid this transformation, he noted, Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The nation has the human capital, the creativity, and the resources to lead, but its biggest challenge remains fragmentation.
“We must build bridges between sectors, not silos,” he urged. “Our power lies in collaboration.”
With a sparkle of optimism, Dr. Olatunji spoke about Nigeria’s youth, 65% of whom are tech-savvy. “Technology is the only language they understand,” he said, describing them as the country’s secret weapon in the race toward global competitiveness.
He challenged innovators to channel their creativity into platforms that solve real problems, just as global disruptors like Uber, Booking.com, and Amazon have done, redefining industries without owning traditional assets.
Pointing to the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, which recently advanced to public hearing at the National Assembly,
Dr. Olatunji called it a “landmark step” toward institutionalizing Nigeria’s digital transformation. The bill, he explained, will establish a unified legal framework for data governance, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions, creating the structure Nigeria needs to thrive in the global digital marketplace.
He also paid tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s early commitment to digital progress, reflected in his swift signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and to Dr. Bosun Tijani’s visionary leadership as Minister, whose technocratic approach continues to unite the ecosystem behind a shared mission of innovation and inclusion.
As the hall erupted in applause, Dr. Olatunji’s closing words lingered like a challenge to all who dream of a truly digital Nigeria:
“We must come together, innovate together, and rise together. The time to act is now, because Nigeria’s place in the global digital economy will be defined by what we build, not what we wait for.”