By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporting
THE FEDERAL Government has said it is intensifying efforts to advance Nigeria’s digital economy as a critical pillar for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation.
President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed this commitment on Monday in Abuja while receiving a policy report from participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The report, titled Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities, outlined key recommendations to accelerate digital transformation.
Course participants urged the government to enact the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2024 and encourage states to waive Right of Way fees on telecoms infrastructure deployment.
They also proposed an Executive Order mandating all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to migrate to the OneGov.ng portal.
Other recommendations included adopting a Quintuple-Helix Model to drive digital growth, ensuring long-term funding for the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) scheme, transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6, and establishing Digital Health Innovation Hubs across the country.
The report also called for developing a preventive maintenance application for Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Responding to the recommendations, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to coordinate with relevant authorities for their implementation.
He emphasised that youth empowerment through digital innovation remains central to his administration’s policies.
“At the core of our administration is youth empowerment. We cannot relent on that, and we need everyone’s collaboration. I have listened carefully to your recommendations and the thorough work you did. We will continue to engage the Institute as a resource centre and Think Tank,” Tinubu said.
He acknowledged overlaps in some government agencies and assured that his administration would address them to enhance efficiency.
Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of NIPSS, highlighted the findings of the study, noting that while Nigeria has immense digital potential, systemic challenges such as infrastructural deficits, inadequate digital skills, and regulatory bottlenecks must be addressed.
“We recognise that in an era where technology drives innovation, Nigeria must aggressively leverage its youthful population to build a thriving ecosystem. The opportunities are boundless, from Fintech to Agri-Tech, E-Commerce to Artificial Intelligence,” Omotayo said.
He stressed the need for targeted policies that support startups, improve access to financing, and expand broadband penetration.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, provided updates on the Digital Economy Bill, currently before the National Assembly.
He announced plans for extensive public hearings across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory before the bill’s expected passage in the second quarter of 2025.
On broadband expansion, Tijani disclosed that 11 states have responded to the federal government’s call to waive Right of Way fees.
He expressed optimism that all states would comply within the next year, accelerating infrastructure development.
Nigeria is also on course to be one of Africa’s first countries to fully transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
Tijani further revealed that the federal government has approved a $2 billion investment to lay 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables, creating the continent’s third-largest fibre network after South Africa and Egypt.
With support from the Ministry of Finance and a $500 million World Bank commitment, the project is advancing significantly.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, underscored the ICT sector’s growing economic importance, noting that it contributed 16% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024.
He reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to fostering a robust digital ecosystem that can drive economic stability and employment.
Edun also referenced President Tinubu’s recent meeting with the CEO of Flutterwave, where the company pledged support for Nigerian youth and small businesses through technology-driven solutions.
Flutterwave said it is considering listing on Nigeria’s Stock Exchange as a move expected to strengthen the country’s tech and payments sector.
