President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prioritizing the development of the digital economy to enhance youth empowerment and job creation. The President made this pledge on Monday in Abuja while receiving a report titled “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities” from participants of the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
The report, which resulted from a year-long study, included eight key recommendations aimed at advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. These include:
- Expediting the enactment of the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2024.
- Encouraging states to waive Right of Way fees for telecoms infrastructure deployment.
- Issuing an Executive Order mandating all MDAs to migrate to the OneGov.ng portal.
- Adopting a Quintuple-Helix Model to promote the digital economy, youth empowerment, and sustainable job creation.
- Promoting long-term funding for the 3MTT (3 Million Technical Talent) scheme.
- Accelerating the transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
- Establishing Digital Health Innovation Hubs across Nigeria.
- Developing a preventive maintenance application for the nation’s automotive industry.
President Tinubu’s Response
President Tinubu commended the NIPSS participants for their thorough work and assured them of the government’s commitment to youth empowerment through innovation and digital skills development.
“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,” the President said.
He directed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to coordinate with the NIPSS group and present their recommendations to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of the Civil Service for streamlined implementation.
NIPSS Director-General Highlights Key Findings
Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of NIPSS, emphasized the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s youthful population to build a thriving digital ecosystem. He noted that while opportunities in fintech, agri-tech, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence are boundless, systemic challenges such as infrastructural deficits, inadequate digital skills, and regulatory bottlenecks must be addressed.
“Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted policies that foster an enabling environment for startups, enhance access to finance, and expand broadband penetration,” Prof. Omotayo stated.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Provides Updates
Minister Bosun Tijani announced that the Digital Economy Bill, currently before the National Assembly, will undergo public hearings in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before its passage in the second quarter of 2025. This marks the first time legislation will be subjected to such an extensive review.
On broadband infrastructure, Tijani disclosed that 11 states have waived Right of Way fees, with optimism that all states will comply by the end of the second year of the Tinubu administration. He also highlighted Nigeria’s progress in transitioning from IPv4 to IPv6, positioning the country to become one of the first in Africa to complete the migration.
The Minister revealed that the federal government has approved a 2billioninvestmentinto90,000kilometersoffiberopticcablestoensurenationwidebroadbandcoverage.Thisproject,supportedbytheMinistryofFinanceanda2billioninvestmentinto90,000kilometersoffiberopticcablestoensurenationwidebroadbandcoverage.Thisproject,supportedbytheMinistryofFinanceanda500 million commitment from the World Bank, will make Nigeria’s fiber network the third-longest in Africa, after South Africa and Egypt.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy Highlights ICT Contributions
Wale Edun, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, noted that the ICT sector contributed 16% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024. He emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing the sector as crucial for economic stability and job creation.
Edun also recalled President Tinubu’s recent meeting with Flutterwave’s CEO, during which the company pledged to support Nigerian youth and SMEs through technology-driven solutions. He added that Flutterwave’s potential listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange would further strengthen the tech and payments ecosystem.
Conclusion
The NIPSS report and the government’s response underscore the importance of the digital economy in driving youth empowerment, job creation, and national development. With targeted policies and strategic investments, Nigeria is poised to unlock its digital potential and create sustainable opportunities for its teeming youth.
