Nigeria Invests N12 Billion in Digital Economy Research

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a significant investment of N12 billion in digital economy research projects. This initiative aims to harness the benefits of digital transformation and drive the country’s development. Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed this plan at the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practices of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) in Abuja.

The research projects will be focused on three key areas .
One research cluster will explore the potential of artificial intelligence in driving Nigeria’s digital economy.
Another cluster will address the pressing issue of connectivity, where the government is investing significantly.
A third cluster will focus on developing digital skills and literacy, particularly considering Nigeria’s large population.

The Minister emphasized that digital technologies have become essential to human existence, and societies that fail to embrace them risk being left behind in development. He stressed that these technologies should be viewed not only as economic enablers but also as powerful instruments for reshaping and governing modern societies.

The ICEGOV Steering Committee Chair, Elsa Estevez, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among countries, institutions, and governments to address the risks and benefits of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that innovations are human-centered and contribute to better societies.The Federal Government plans to integrate digital literacy into the formal education system starting next year and ensure public servants become digitally literate to improve service delivery in the public sector .