With a strong commitment and strategic vision, the nation is crafting a groundbreaking path that overcomes all barriers and redefines potential.

This moment marks more than just a new chapter; it is a rallying cry for action, innovation, and the creation of a lasting legacy.

The age of gradual change is behind us, Nigeria is confidently establishing itself as a beacon of resilience, creativity, and global relevance.

Education Reform: Regulating the Future

The introduction of the National Policy on Non-State Schools marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s educational journey, one that promises to transform the landscape of learning across the country.

For many years, the educational framework in Nigeria has been characterized by a lack of cohesion and clarity, with private and informal schools operating in a state of regulatory uncertainty. This has often led to inconsistent quality and varying standards of education available to students.

The new policy aims to rectify these Issues by establishing clear, minimum standards that non-state schools must adhere to.

These standards encompass critical areas such as infrastructure, ensuring that schools provide safe and conducive learning environments; curriculum, guaranteeing that educational content meets national benchmarks and adequately prepares students for future challenges; and teacher quality, focusing on the qualifications and ongoing professional development of educators.

Significantly supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and integrated into the broader National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), the policy seeks to create a more regulated and accountable system for non-state schools.

By doing so, it not only strives to enhance educational outcomes for the millions of children accessing these institutions but also aims to foster equity and inclusivity within Nigeria’s educational system.

This innovative approach will transform the education sector, creating a stronger, more unified system that empowers students, uplifts families, and invigorates communities across the nation!

Transforming education into an inherent right for every child represents an ambitious and visionary leap forward in our societal values.

By guaranteeing that all children, regardless of whether they are enrolled in faith-based institutions, public schools, or community-driven educational centers, receive an education that adheres to national standards, we are not merely facilitating academic growth; we are planting the seeds for a more equitable and prosperous future.

This initiative acknowledges that education should be accessible to everyone, fostering an inclusive framework.

By integrating incentives for enrolling out-of-school children, such as financial support, school supplies, and transportation assistance, it demonstrates a commitment to fairness and equality in education.

This approach transcends strategy; it reflects a moral obligation to empower children’s potential. By prioritizing educational rights, we create a society where all young individuals can thrive and pursue their dreams, while fostering a culture that values knowledge, inclusivity, and opportunity for all.

Infrastructure: From Blueprint to Reality

Under President Tinubu’s administration, the country has made notable advancements in improving its infrastructure. More than 420 federal roads, bridges, and related projects have either been completed or are significantly underway. This progress is not just talk; it signifies a real transformation in the nation’s infrastructure landscape.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway stands out as a key initiative within the Renewed Hope Agenda, exemplifying the commitment to enhancing critical transportation links in Nigeria.

By successfully implementing such projects, the administration aims to improve regional connectivity and stimulate economic growth, demonstrating a strong dedication to revitalizing the country’s infrastructure for the benefit of all its citizens.

While we celebrate advancements in engineering, we must also prioritize professional integrity. The Senate Committee on Works aptly cautions against the dangers of engineering failures stemming from inadequate compliance. Building infrastructure is just the beginning; we must ensure that it stands the test of time.

Economic Stability: Inflation Retreats

The recent decrease in Nigeria’s inflation rate to 22.2% as of June 2025 marks a significant positive development for the country’s economy.

This reduction, down from a concerning 34.2% in the previous year, signals effective macroeconomic policies and recalibration that are beginning to take effect. Although monthly inflation pressures remain a concern, the year-on-year decline indicates a shift towards greater economic stability.

Food inflation, which has been notably erratic, appears to be gradually easing, providing some relief to consumers who have faced escalating prices in recent months. Additionally, core inflation indicators, those that exclude volatile items such as food and energy, suggest that the economy may be on the path to stabilization, offering hope for more predictable economic conditions in the near future.

However, this is not a moment for complacency. Rather, it is crucial to build upon these gains by implementing strategic measures that protect consumers’ purchasing power.

Policymakers and economic leaders must prioritize ensuring that the current economic growth translates into tangible improvements in household prosperity.

This involves fostering an environment where growth benefits all segments of society, ultimately leading to a more resilient economy. The focus now should be on reinforcing the positive trends and preemptively addressing any potential challenges that may arise.

Energy Ambition: Powering the Future

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has been given a crucial mandate to elevate the national grid capacity to 8,500 megawatts (MW) within a one-year timeline.

This marks a significant shift from previous aspirations to a concrete execution plan aimed at addressing the country’s pressing energy needs.

Despite having over 14,000 MW in installed capacity, the real challenge lies not in generation but in the glaring inefficiencies related to transmission and distribution networks, which have hindered optimal utilization of available resources.

To support this ambitious goal, a $500 million loan from the World Bank has been secured, along with the implementation of the Presidential Metering Initiative.

These financial and policy instruments are intended to enhance the infrastructure necessary for improving power delivery and consumption.

However, NISO’s role extends beyond merely improving hardware and facilities; it must also cultivate a culture of transparency and neutrality in operations.

Operational excellence will be paramount as the organization navigates the complexities of the energy sector.

The significance of reliable power access cannot be overstated, as electricity is not merely a commodity, it serves as the essential foundation for industrialization and economic growth.

By committing to these principles, NISO has the opportunity to catalyze profound changes in Nigeria’s energy landscape, facilitating a more robust economy and improved quality of life for its citizens.

Oil Output: Surpassing Expectations

In June 2025, Nigeria’s crude oil production decisively surpassed the OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day, signaling a robust recovery in the petroleum sector. This achievement was driven by strengthened security measures and rigorous operational discipline. When including condensates, total output reached nearly 1.7 million barrels per day.

Nigeria is firmly set on achieving a medium-term production target of 2.06 million barrels per day by 2027. This goal, while ambitious, is entirely attainable.

The current emphasis is on sustaining this momentum, attracting substantial investment, and guaranteeing that the advantages of oil wealth significantly contribute to national development.

Conclusion: A Nation in Motion

These headlines aren’t merely victories; they embody a dynamic national renaissance. Education unlocks our human potential, while infrastructure propels our mobility into the future. Energy fuels our productivity, and economic stability builds unwavering confidence across all sectors. Oil revenue catalyses transformative change.

Nigeria is on a journey, imperfect, yet undeniably moving forward. Now is the time to elevate what works, challenge what doesn’t, and craft a nation that fully realises its immense promise. Let’s not just watch these headlines trend; let them ignite inspiration and drive us to action!

The Standards Partnership Programme – Phase II, which officially launched in June 2024 with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) during the African Organisation for Standards (ARSO) General Assembly in Abuja, is designed for both countries to eliminate technical trade barriers, improve regulatory compliance, and promote export competitiveness.

Implemented by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Nigeria’s National Quality Council (NQC), under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the SPP Programme aims to deliver a robust quality infrastructure focused on improving standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment, inspection, testing, and metrology services to boost UK/Nigeria’s export capacity, attract investment, and enhance trade efficiency that is aligned with global standards.

At the Nigeria National Quality Policy (NNQP) Matrix Implementation Training-of-Trainers Workshop which held last week in Lagos and Abuja, stakeholders from both the public and private sectors convened to discuss capacity building for quality compliance and the role of metrology in ensuring accurate measurement, calibration and certification of goods.

Delivering his keynote address in Abuja at the week-long workshop on “The Sustainable Provision of Metrology Services in Nigeria”, Senator George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring quality-driven economic growth, and said:

“A strong National Quality Infrastructure is essential for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. Improving our standards, metrology, and accreditation systems can boost non-oil exports, create jobs, and strengthen the naira. This partnership with the UK is a major step forward in achieving these goals”.

Echoing this sentiment, Osita Aboloma, Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Quality Council (NQC), welcomed the initiative, emphasising that stakeholder collaboration is crucial in achieving Nigeria’s quality and trade goals and said:

“An effective quality infrastructure will not only support the Federal Government’s economic agenda but also enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products and services in global markets.”

The importance of data-driven quality policy implementation was highlighted, emphasising the role of metrology, accreditation, conformity assessments, inspections and testing in ensuring that Nigerian exports meet international standards, reducing rejections and improving market access.

At the event, Dr Simeon Umukoro, Trade Market Access Lead of the UK Department for Business and Trade reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s economic diversification and trade enhancement efforts in line with the UK and Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

“The UK and Nigeria remain strategic partners in trade and investment. By improving Nigeria’s National Quality Infrastructure, we are unlocking new opportunities to drive innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth for both nations,” said Dr. Umukoro.

Alongside announcing plans to appoint new Special Representatives for Climate Change and for Nature, the Foreign Secretary also pledged to unlock more climate finance and reverse the decline in global biodiversity – addressing systemic inequalities and injustice globally.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

“This Government has set a landmark goal – to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030. We will leverage that ambition to build an Alliance committed to accelerating the clean energy transition. And today we are firing the starting gun on forming this new coalition. While some countries are moving ahead in this transition, others are being left behind. “We need to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy across the globe in the way that this Government is doing at home.” 

The Alliance will focus on driving global investment and finance to close the clean power gap by helping more countries to leapfrog fossil fuels and transition to power systems with renewables at their core. It will work to speed up the supply of critical minerals and inject impetus into expanding energy grids and storage. This will help to increase clean energy innovation across the globe – sharing knowledge and technology to make Net Zero Power a reality, everywhere.

Continuing, Lammy said:

“This crisis is not some discrete policy area, divorced from geopolitics, conflict and insecurity. The threat may not feel as urgent as a terrorist or an imperialist autocrat. But it is more fundamental. It is systemic. Pervasive. And accelerating towards us. Today, I am committing to you that while I am Foreign Secretary, action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to all the Foreign Office does. This is critical given the scale of the threat, but also the scale of the opportunity.” 

The Foreign Secretary also committed to united Government team that will use the diplomatic and development weight of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to push for ambitious pledges on finance and reduced emissions at COP29.

This diplomatic weight will be reinforced by new UK Special Representatives for Climate Change and for Nature.

These representatives will report to the Foreign Secretary, together with Ed Miliband and Steve Reed respectively, and will help to galvanise British engagement with partners across the world, forge genuine partnerships on climate change and mark a diplomatic drive to increase global ambition focused on clean power, climate finance, adaptation and resilience and biodiversity.

[Featured Photo Credit]

Techeconomy gathered that, at the conference scheduled to hold on March 27th 2024 in Abuja, the findings and recommendations from a technical study on Capacity-Building and Testing Business Models for Sustainable Last-Mile Connectivity in Underserved and Unserved Areas in Nigeria, will be presented to stakeholders.

The study aimed at instituting a positive change of sustainability in the operations of internet service and other last mile connectivity providers in underserved and unserved areas in Nigeria which was commissioned under the FCDO’s Digital Access Programme and undertaken by IDI.

These stakeholders will include high-level decision makers in key relevant forums in Nigeria like the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), promoters and managers of internet service and other last mile connectivity providers and civil society.

According to Osondu Nwokoro, director of IDI, and a leading telecommunications policy, law and regulation practitioner and digital inclusion advocate,

“the study consulted widely, obtained and processed information from the material segments of the communications industry including internet service providers, rural connectivity providers like community networks and cyber cafes, policy advocacy groups, consumer associations and relevant government agencies while also noting best practices in other countries.”

From this process, Nwokoro said, the study produced a Gap Analysis and a pioneering Sustainability Toolkit (Business Model) which respectively present pragmatic policy, regulatory as well as entrepreneurial insights which will be recommended at the conference for adoption by relevant policy and regulatory agencies in the communications industry as well as service providers.

The focus is to address the long-standing problems around the sustainability of the operations of internet service and other last mile connectivity providers in underserved and unserved areas in Nigeria which discourage service roll out in those locations, thereby facilitating digital access and consequently the attainment of the targets of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, 2019 as well as the National Broadband Plan, 2020-2025.

According to Mr. Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, the president of ATCON, the results of the study to be presented at the FCDO supported conference would lead to the availability and enhancement of broadband services, the establishment of innovation hubs and technology entrepreneurs in rural areas across Nigeria in fulfilment of the mandate in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, 2019.

The signing earmarked the revitalised commitment to support good governance, human capital development with a focus on Health, Education, Social protection, economic recovery, and poverty reduction for the state.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Nigeria, first entered the mutual accountability relationship with the Kaduna government in June 2021, under the leadership and administration of Gov. Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.

The newly revised framework focuses on the mandate to reduce poverty through economic growth, good governance, and investment in people; via a State-led ownership commitment focused on results, accountability, and transparency; and with the support from FCDO through technical assistance.

During the signing, Cynthia Rowe, said:

“Today’s signing reaffirms our commitment to the plans included and outlined in the framework, and to working closely with the Kaduna Governor, His Excellency Senator. Uba Sani to achieve these.

“Together, we will work to fulfil the ‘offers’ and ‘asks’ of the Kaduna Mutual Accountabilitydocument; over the next 12 months.

“We very much look forward to continuing the work in the state – both with government and civil society – to enhance prosperity within the state.”

What you should know about K-MAF and others

• The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Nigeria, aims to monitor and review mutual accountability commitments with partner governments on a six-monthly basis, to access progress being made and address any issues with the implementation of the joint commitments in the MAF compact.
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Nigeria, use review meetings to agree priorities for next 6 – 12 months.
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, Nigeria, have similar mutual accountability arrangements with the governments of Kano and Jigawa States.

At a Climate Smart Agriculture results and lesson sharing event which held in Abuja on Wednesday, LINKS demonstrated that the project is starting to deliver impressive results, particularly the Systems of Rice Intensification – SRI, a climate smart agricultural practice which is a different way of producing rice that reduces input costs by 50%, with less use of water, doubling yields for farmers and reducing GHG emissions.

SRI involves early transplanting of seedlings and wide spacing to allow the plants to flourish, alternative wetting and drying rather than flooding and the use of organic rather than chemical fertilisers.

A further benefit for wider society is the overall climate impact delivered by SRI. Rice production traditionally produces methane (globally contributing approximately 2.5% of all human induced GHG emissions, roughly the same as international air travel) and this is set to grow in Nigeria with increasing consumption and production of paddy rice.

Speaking at the event, Team Leader, LINKS programme, Andrew Thorburn said:

Farmers were sceptical at first but after 4 seasons we now have over 26,000 farmers in Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa actively using SRI. The use of organic rather than chemical fertilisers equally meant that soil quality further improves every season which continued to deliver improved results as well as increased resilience to changing weather, especially flooding.”

British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, represented by the FCDO Climate and Nature Lead in Abuja, Martine Sobey said:

”The UK Government has a strong focus on supporting Nigeria to deliver its international climate commitments. “We are particularly pleased to note that the Systems of Rice Intensification – SRI reduces the GHG emissions produced by rice growers by as much as 40% and look forward to seeing SRI expand throughout Nigeria”.

At the event participants heard from farmers based in Kano and Jigawa who were trained to use the SRI method explain how the change had benefited their lives and that of their communities.

They also heard from Silvex International, a LINKS partner and aggregator who is planning to expand SRI to over 1,000 hectares in the coming years that will ensure benefits throughout the value chain.

With this positive start, SRI is set to help Nigeria on the road to rice self-sufficiency as well as improving the environment for all.

The community’s goal is to promote inclusive growth and long-term development for stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

A digital ecosystem is a sophisticated web of individuals, businesses, and systems that interact with one another through technology. These digital ecosystems differ greatly from conventional business ecosystems.

It also aims to identify and strengthen key digital players, as well as foster inclusive public-private sector collaboration, to enable digital growth and capabilities in Nigeria.

This was announced at the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the NESG’s inauguration of the ‘Building a Digital Future: Inaugurating the Digital Economy Community of Practice in Nigeria.’

Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive Officer of the NESG, stated, “The growth achieved by the digital economy offers great opportunities but also poses the risk of leaving some people behind.” Women and girls are disproportionately affected by access to and use of digital devices and services, leaving the most vulnerable digitally excluded.

“The absence of a robust collaboration framework between the regulatory agencies, the private sector, and development partners is an area within the digital sector that requires attention.

“In light of these realities, the FCDO has partnered with the PIC of the NESG to inaugurate a Community of Practice, a platform to drive continued collaboration between the public, private, and development sectors and ensure the inclusivity and sustainability of a vibrant digital ecosystem in Nigeria.

The inauguration of the Digital Economy Community of Practice (DECoP) marks the culmination of consultative and collaborative work in the past year with a wide range of stakeholders.”

The programme also indirectly benefited over 10,000 additional women through the train-the-trainer programme.

These employable digital skills would drive positive livelihood outcomes for beneficiaries, improve their employment prospects and prepare them for digital entrepreneurship in today’s digital economy.

The DigiGirls program aims to lower the digital gender imbalance against women in Nigeria by empowering more women and girls with employable digital skills through intensive training, mentorship, internship/job placements, and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The learning paths for the program include Digital marketing, UI/UX, graphics design, E-commerce, and Data analysis.

Speaking at the virtual graduation event for the DigiGirls 2.0 beneficiaries held on Tuesday 30th August 2022, Alessandra Lustrati, Head of Digital Development and Global Lead of the Digital Access Programme in the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), congratulated the trainees on their achievements.

According to her, “building digital capacity at a local level, and testing digital skills development models that work well with specific target groups – like in the DigiGirls approach – is central to FCDO’s overall effort to support the inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital transformation of partner countries like Nigeria.”

Alessandra further highlighted the huge potential of Nigeria’s digital economy, recalling that the ICT sector was the fastest growing sector of Nigeria’s economy in 2020 and 2021, and is estimated to contribute 16.2% of Nigeria’s GDP at Q1 of 2022. 

She said: “The digital economy can thrive much more and generate opportunities and skilled job only if we make an effort to close the digital gender gap, which in Nigeria is currently estimated at about 25%. The DigiGirls project with our partner CyberSafe Foundation, as part of the wider UK Digital Access Programme is a great example of how we can help close that gender gap and drive digital inclusion.”

Confidence Staveley, the Founder, and Executive Director of Cybersafe Foundation, specially thanked the UK government for their continuous support in making the program a success and improving the lives of the beneficiaries.

She said, “Thanks to the UK government through the FCDO, the DigiGirls program from inception has now directly empowered over 6000 women with Digital skills from both cohorts held.

She went on to encourage the latest graduands to make use of their newfound skills and learnings, “You are the value, don’t stop adding value”, she added.

The Minister, who gave the figures at the opening of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) – (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) FCDO Roundtable, and Technical Workshop on Building Capabilities for Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Transformation in Nigeria, said this “percentage is unprecedented, and this is only the contribution of ICT to our GDP without calculating digital services”.

Pantami said digital access and connectivity have become a necessity, as they play an increasingly vital role in our everyday lives and have become key drivers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Minister assured his audience, including representatives of ITU, FCDO, and other international agencies, embassies, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, that the “Federal Government understands that enormous private sector support, as well as support from international organisations, are essential to enable us to realise our lofty goals for Nigeria’s digital economy and this has informed our decision to partner with key international organisations such as the ITU and FCDO.

“The digital age is upon us, and all relevant stakeholders must be prepared for the enormous but inevitable change that will occur,” he said.

The Minister also assured of the Federal Government’s committed to the development of the digital economy, with a promise that “the Nigerian government will ensure that all critical infrastructure is made available for the facilitation of digital connectivity, transformation and ultimately, the realisation of a robust digital economy”.

Professor Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that the Federal Government’s policies in the communications and digital economy sector are already yielding positive results including a reduction in the access gap, improved digital financial inclusion and a steadily increasing contribution to the GDP.

He stated that the sector has remained the most resilient in the country while stressing that the Commission recognizes the need to do more in strengthening the telecommunication sector and improving internet penetration.

“As of the end of 2021, the estimated population of people living in the underserved areas declined from 31.16 million in 2019 to 28.87 million in 2021, and the access gaps reduced from 227 to 114,” he said.

Danbatta assured that the Commission will not rest on its oars in supporting Internet penetration and improvement of services but prepared to support internet penetrations and digital skills to give concrete expressions to policies and initiatives to close identified gaps.

“The Commission is quite conscious of the need to do more and considers this Roundtable as another opportunity to gather feedback as well as expert opinions of participants. Therefore, all participants are enjoined to contribute freely and recommend measures that will further support Nigeria in meeting its connectivity target and develop a robust digital economy. We look forward to the outcome of your deliberations and expect feedbacks that will deepen the conversations on policies and initiatives for digital access and connectivity in Nigeria,” the EVC urged participants.