Minister for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, unveiled a comprehensive 31-page blueprint on Monday, outlining the ministry’s ambitious plans to leverage digital technology and innovation for economic empowerment. Shared on his X profile (formerly Twitter), the document, titled ‘Accelerating our collective prosperity through technical efficiency,’ sets the stage for a Nigeria thriving in the digital age.
Tijani, in the preface, emphasized the blueprint’s significance as a critical launchpad toward achieving a digitally inclusive nation. He detailed that the strategic framework is a result of extensive consultations with stakeholders across the ministry, including departments, units, parastatals, and ecosystem players.
The blueprint hinges on five interconnected pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Capital, and Trade. These pillars, according to Tijani, form the foundation of the ministry’s overarching strategy.
1. Knowledge: The minister underscored talent development within the first pillar, expressing the commitment to training three million early to mid-career technical talents over the next four years. He emphasized placing Nigeria in the top 25% globally for research in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Internet of Things, Robotics, Blockchain, and Additive Manufacturing. The mission also includes achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030.
2. Policy: Tijani described the second pillar as a platform for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the next four years, policies will emphasize encouraging investment, research and development, and protecting intellectual property. Nine policy initiatives, including the National Digital Economy Bill and National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, will undergo review and implementation.
3. Infrastructure: Highlighting the importance of infrastructure, Tijani stated its role in catalyzing a digital transformation across the population. The ministry aims to lay 95,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable across the country and establish a comprehensive Digital Public Infrastructure. ‘OneGOV,’ a one-stop shop for government services, is set to launch by the end of 2024.
4. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Capital: The ministry is committed to supporting startup growth, particularly those addressing critical sectors of the nation’s economy. Collaboration with other ministries and private sector stakeholders will focus on sectors like AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, MediaTech, CleanTech, and CreTech.
5. Trade: Positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global technology ecosystem is the aim of the fifth pillar. The ministry plans to enhance Nigeria’s ranking in the Economic Complexity Index in technology, aiming for a 500% intra-African trade growth by 2027. A tool called the ‘Public Sector Project Complexity Index’ is introduced to guide project prioritization in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
In essence, the blueprint signifies a bold step towards a digitally advanced Nigeria, aligning with the broader national agenda for economic revitalization. Minister Tijani’s strategic plan, encompassing knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, and trade, lays the foundation for a dynamic and inclusive digital future for the nation.