Nigeria, a nation of over 220 million people with an average age of just 18, is uniquely poised for a digital revolution.
At the heart of this transformation, according to Kashifu Inuwa, director general of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), are the country’s youth, the creators, innovators, and problem-solvers who hold the key to a prosperous and inclusive future for both Nigeria and Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, Inuwa called on young Nigerians to step up as leaders of the continent’s digital transformation.
He expressed appreciation for the presence of Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, describing it as a signal of the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment.
Organized by NITDA, Digital Nigeria serves as a vibrant platform where policymakers, innovators, and private-sector leaders converge to shape actionable strategies for a sustainable digital future.
With the theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” the conference aligns closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification through digitalization, industrialization, and innovation.
Inuwa warned that Nigeria stands at a crossroads.
“If we harness the energy, creativity, and talent of our youth, we are not just going to power Nigeria, we can power the entire Africa into a new era of prosperity. But if we fail to do that, we are stunting the most valuable asset we have as a nation,” he said.
The 2025 edition attracted over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states, featuring 12 keynotes, 23 panel discussions, five workshops, and two expert masterclasses across five thematic tracks: digital connectivity; digital public infrastructure and trust; AI and emerging technologies; digital trade and innovation; and digital skills and literacy.
In closing, Inuwa urged participants to see the conference as more than a networking event.
“Every handshake, every dialogue, every deal made here should be driven by one conviction: Nigeria can do it, and we will do it,” he affirmed, setting the tone for a collaborative push toward a digitally empowered nation and continent.
