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.

Against the backdrop of the conference theme, “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” VP Shettima shared a vision of a digitally empowered Nigeria, where technology touches every sector and every citizen.

At the heart of this vision is the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, which Shettima described as more than legislation; it is “a strategic leap toward embedding technology into the fabric of governance, economic planning, and national development.”

Drawing a parallel with Nigeria’s cashless policy, which ignited the fintech revolution, he declared, “Just as the cashless policy unlocked the fintech revolution, this new bill will unlock the govtech revolution, an era of smarter governance, greater transparency, and inclusive service delivery.”

He highlighted complementary initiatives, from integrating digital literacy into school curricula to digitizing the informal sector and rolling out the 3 Million Technical Talent Program, aimed at developing world-class expertise.

Addressing young Nigerians directly, the VP called them the “lifewire of our nation,” urging them to embrace innovation and turn possibilities into profits.

Shettima also showcased ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Broadband Superhighway and initiatives like Bridge and 7-7-4, which aim to ensure equal digital access for startups from Gusau to Lagos. He emphasized that equitable connectivity is not only fair but essential for national competitiveness in the digital age.

The Vice President lauded Nigeria’s emergence as a leading fintech hub, stressing that the bill will unify legal frameworks for digital governance, e-transactions, and cybersecurity, while strengthening institutions like NITDA, NCC, and NDPC.

Painting a picture of the future, Shettima envisioned farmers accessing real-time market data, young women in rural communities working remotely for global companies, and universities producing graduates ready to thrive in a digital economy.

The event attracted Nigeria’s top technology and policy leaders, including Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, DG/CEO of NITDA; Dr. Aminu Wada of NCC; Dr. Vincent Olatunji of NDPC; and Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu of the National Universities Commission, alongside senior government officials, diplomats, service chiefs, and industry leaders.

Declaring the conference open, Shettima urged participants to seize the moment, asserting that digital innovation is the language of Nigeria’s long-term stability and a key driver of opportunity, inclusion, and prosperity for all citizens.

Themed: “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion and Global Competitiveness,” the Conference is scheduled to hold from Tuesday, 11th to Thursday, 13th November 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, commencing daily at 9:00 AM.

Organised by NITDA, in partnership with Brevity Anderson and Consensus, the flagship event stands as Nigeria’s largest and most influential digital economy gathering bringing together policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, academia, and the global tech community.

According to Mrs Hadiza Umar, director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations Department at NITDA, this year’s edition will feature seven tracks under three main streams:

• Digital Nigeria Future Conference – a high-level forum for thought leaders to explore Africa’s role in the global digital economy, policy harmonisation, and pathways for inclusive growth.
• Digital Nigeria Startup Innovation Clinic & Tech Expo – a platform for Nigeria’s vibrant startup ecosystem to showcase innovations, connect with investors, and receive tailored mentorship.
• Digital Nigeria Tech Exhibitions – an immersive showcase of cutting-edge solutions, products, and services from local and international tech companies shaping the future of digital transformation.

Speaking ahead of the event, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the director-general of NITDA, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for digital innovation:

“The Digital Nigeria International Conference is not just an event, it is a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As Nigeria positions itself as Africa’s digital hub, this platform offers opportunities for startups, investors, regulators, and global partners to align strategies and co-create solutions that will shape our nation’s future in the digital economy.”

The 2025 edition promises to attract a record number of participants, featuring keynote addresses, panel sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities that will accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy.

Participation is free but requires registration via the official conference portal: www.digitalnigeria.gov.ng

The Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition is the flagship awareness programme in the Digital Economy sector.

According to a statement signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, this year’s event with the theme: “Harnessing Digital Technologies for Job Creation, Inclusive Economic Growth, and Sustainability”, is rebranded to expand the scope in line with the core objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

“In line with the above, the Digital Nigeria Hackathon, offers participants the chance to tackle national challenges by leveraging emerging technology.

“It is focused on building a digital Nigeria, where participants employ creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking to tackle problems measurably and systematically.

Additionally, the NITDA Digital Nigeria Hackathon 2023 is targeted at achieving the under-listed objectives:

• Local content development and promotion of ideas to be developed into products and homegrown solutions.

• To leverage young talented Nigerians to produce innovative ideas and products to solve socioeconomic problems and guide tech entrepreneurship to provide solutions to existing challenges across various sectors in Nigeria.

• To match tech entrepreneurs with the appropriate public institution right from idea generation.

• Exportation of digital services for economic expansion.

• To activate fresh thinking by connecting innovators from diverse backgrounds and sectors.

Participating startup founders will be allowed to express creativity within their business case and encouraged to develop unique solutions with an emphasis on using the latest technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud, Big data, Virtual blockchain, Quantum computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR)and Reality (VR) to come up with clearly defined ideas and prototypes solutions on e-Digital Literacy & Inclusion; e-Creative Media; e-Government Services; e-Subsidy Removal/Mobility; and e- Financial Inclusion Technology.

Consequently, finalists will pitch their ideas and teams at the event and a winner will receive the Digital Nigeria Innovation Prize. After the hackathon, the winning team will be provided the support to continue to build their solution into a commercial venture. Participants are, therefore, expected to identify relevant problem areas and propose solutions to address them.

Inuwa stated this at the Day Three of the Digital Nigeria International Conference 2022 holding Abuja. 

He noted that for Nigeria to succeed, the tech ecosystem needs every stakeholder on board to play their roles as required of them. “To build a very strong tech ecosystem, we need the government, the higher institutions, we need the entrepreneurs, the risk capitalists and corporate organisations everybody has its own role to play.”

He stated that the government is playing its role by creating a level playing ground by formulating policies, legal framework, regulations and intervening in providing infrastructure to the underserved and unserved communities reiterating that the government is doing more than enough in these regards.

“The government needs you, needs your commitment the same way the government is committed. For the higher institutions, we need you to produce high quality education to the people because innovation, digital economy or knowledge-based economy are all human capital economy.”

“Your greatest resources are not the mineral resources but it is what you have in your brain; we need higher institutions to produce the right skill, talents and people with entrepreneurial skills,” Inuwa noted. 

He claimed that the government is doing more than enough in terms of building the human capital and “this is beyond conventional educational system,” adding that the government has several initiatives to achieve the 90 per cent digital literacy which would go a long way in building the tech ecosystem. 

He said, “We need the number. We need people to have skills to use in the digital based technological environment and that is why we are training people on high earned skills to build the digital service because digital service is a product-based economy.”   

He listed part of government initiatives to include the partnership between Nigeria government and Microsoft to train 5 million Nigerians, the partnership with COUSERA to train 24,000 and several others which aimed at positioning Nigeria to be the global talent factory. 

“One of the digital prints we need in the ecosystem is the legal framework. Just last week the President signed the Nigeria Start up bill into law so all these is to level the playing field for you.” 

“For the entrepreneurs, now you have the playing field; it is left for you to take your ideas from invention to impact and in Nigeria and even Africa in general, we have a lot of problems awaiting solutions. And technology can serve as inspiration for you to solve these problems so all you need is to explore how you can solve the problems and impact lives,” he said.

While decrying the imbalance in the distribution of global wealth and prosperity, Inuwa maintained that with the thriving tech ecosystem, the imbalance would be corrected. He added that successful countries have three things in common which are innovation, entrepreneurship and good ecosystem because nobody succeed in isolation.

He said, “Even in Nigeria, if you look at the ecosystem, Lagos alone is contributing almost one quarter of the Nigerian Gross Domestic Products, (GDP) and when you talk about the tech ecosystem, it attracts more than 50 per cent; so why?”

He however, sued for the replication of the feat in all other parts of the country. He said, “We can build this kind of ecosystem across the country because every part of the country has its strength and weakness. If we can leverage on the strength, we can build the same ecosystem to build prosperity because innovation is the only thing that can lead any nation to prosperity.”

The Day Three of the International Conference which was tagged “Start-Up and Innovation Ecosystem Day” witnessed various enthralling discussions with the lead speech on “Innovative Ecosystem and Investors’ Perspective” which was presented by Satesh Elwani the managing Director Melsons Group.

The panel sessions focused on: “Building a Thriving and Sustainable Start-up and Innovation Ecosystem for Nigeria’s Digital Economy;” “A tent Approach to Addressing the Talent Gap Issues;” “Exploring the Funding Opportunities for Nigerian Start-ups” and “Unlocking Nigeria’s Innovation Potentials for Economic Growth and Prosperity.” 

The President was speaking on Tuesday, January 25 2022 at the launching of the Fifth Generation (5G) Network for a digital Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Buhari who expressed his satisfaction with the exemplary leadership and unprecedented developments Professor Pantami has brought to bear on the digital economy sector as well as the country at large, said “I applaud the commitment and consistency of the Honourable Minister of Communications and DigitalEconomy, towards the delivery of the mandate of developing Nigeria’s digital economy. The progress has been unprecedented and truly commendable”.

He further emphasized that the Digital Economy sector has had a significant impact on the nation’s economy through its development and implementation of impactful policies.

President Buhari enumerated some of the sector’s contributions to include; the fastest growing sector in 2020, recording double-digit growth rates of 14.70% and 12.90% respectively, a 17.92% contribution to the national GDP, the prime role in enabling our economy swiftly exit the pandemic-triggered recession, among others.

The president reiterated that 5G technologies can support every sector by enhancing connectivity, healthcare, education, foster smart cities, boost agriculture and support security institutions with real time information.

“To this end, I hereby direct all the security institutions to immediately leverage 5G when deployed, in order to beef up security in the country and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy is to oversee a multi-stakeholder implementation of the policy”.