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Digital Economy A Catalyst For Nigeria’s Development- Dr. Woherem
Dr. Evans Woherem, a foremost banker and renowned IT guru, has lauded the Minister of Communications & Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, and the Federal Government, for upgrading the former Federal Ministry of Communications to that of Communications & Digital Economy.
Dr. Woherem said he was particularly delighted by the upgrade because he had for long advocated the need for the country to constitute a committee that would come up with a new policy and strategy aimed at creating a roadmap on how to turn the country into a digital economy, describing the Minister’s action as poignant and proactive.
“Take for instance as I have been pointing out lately. South Africa has a Ministry of Information Technology. To me, that’s so marvelous for a country to be so far-reaching in its thinking of the future, realizing the importance of information technology.
“The fact that it’s a catalyst for development, for energizing other parts of government or activities in an economy, to the point of creating a ministry that will run the affairs of the information technology in the country, made me applaud the South African Government.
“And again, the United Arab Emirates has something similar, and indeed, more exciting. UAE has a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence; to me, that’s something that speaks volumes. In addition to that, they also have a Ministry of Possibilities.
“It means that they are really preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond; they are really preparing for the new century.
“They really want to do something that nobody had thought ever before. They really want to experiment, push boundaries and use technology to go where no nation had been before,” Woherem stated.
Dr. Woherem, a former Executive Director at First Bank Plc and Unity Bank of Nigeria noted that he had always pointed out the need for Nigeria to do the right kind of thing as a nation, have the audacity to reach out to be the best, and to do things that are almost miraculous.
“By the creativity of Nigerians as individuals, by her population, and by what our youths are doing today, we need to do something that is audacious.
“We are just simply destined to do something great in leading Africa. Unfortunately, our leaders do not think long term; they rather think short term that has to do with themselves than pan-Nigeria.
“I am very glad that even in our own country, a minister is thinking along this direction to the extent of adding to the Ministry of Communications, Digital Economy. With the new ministry, we are no longer going to have the Communication Ministry as we used to know it.
“What we’ve done now with the new ministry crosses what South Africa and the UAE had done. It is a good thing to the point that it’s something that is needed.
“Simply, information technology is the major catalyst for development. Even by itself, it began to make significant contributions to the GDP. We are told that about 13.8% of the GDP is as a result of ICT contributions. That to me is herculean and portends a lot of good for the country. It means that the next 10 to 20 years, it will begin to reach about 30% or so.”
Dr. Woherem advised that information technology should be taken seriously because it is going to positively affect all the sectors of the economy, all the activities of government and even her citizens, adding that currently Nigeria and indeed Africa are still at the lower end of the spectrum of information technology.
“We are just at the foundation stages. It does not however, mean that it is like that in all the sectors of the economy. For instance, the banking sector might be at the beginning of the operational level, same as the Agricultural sector.
“Our various sectors of the economy are at various stages of development whereas all of them are supposed to be at the operational level going to strategic levels of use of information technology,” he said.
The Digital Africa Global Consult Group boss warned that as a country, Nigeria should not just be technology usersbut should participate in developing technology applications that are going to drive the 21st and 22nd centuries.
“I have always lamented about the fact that Africa is sitting idly by and letting the train of technology development pass-by. Just like we did in the first, second and third industrial revolutions, it always baffles me that we are not taking it more seriously.
“Somebody once said there is a culture of technology; every technology has a culture associated with it. Sometime, you are creating a technology without knowing you are creating a culture too.
“That being the case, why should Africa allow somebody else be solely responsible on how we are going to live in the future without our own input? So, I have always felt that Africa should be part and parcel of those developing global technology.
“Digital economy is therefore, a good thing for us as a country because it can definitely help us to not only have ICT but will add more and more to our GDP. It is also going to develop and advance each of the industries and sectors of our economy as a nation by creating a lot more employments.”
Dr. Woherem said that though kudos should be given to government for coming up with the decision to upgrade to a digital economy, he insisted that there are certain things that must be done to ensure a total paradigm shift to digital economy.
“We need to come up with a set of policies and strategies through which things can be evolved. To an extent, government has come up with something to that effect, and it is kudos to government.
“However, I would have wanted a set of Nigerians, representing certain key parts of the economy led with a representation of certain people that are truly experts in these areas that would come up with that set of policies and strategies for developing a digital economy.
“And that committee shouldn’t be an Ad hoc or one-off committee. They should be there to also oversee things and be called upon from time to time to deliberate and also make recommendations with regard to the digital economy. This should be taken serious.
“There is an organization within the European Union where all Champions for IT in different countries in Europe come together to deliberate on the future of Europe especiallyon matters of technology.
“What does that show? It means they are taking the issue of technology seriously over there. Yet, Europe is way ahead of Africa in the adoption of technology tools. If Europe that is way ahead of us in technology is taking it this serious, that means we have to be more serious. This also means there are certain things we have to put in place.”
He said that whatever Nigeria is doing with regard to digital economy is the country’s own attempt to catch up, adding that what heis expecting to see is that as a result of this subtle focus and emphasis on digital economy, that Nigeria will start thinking a lot more seriously with regards to what kind of economy she is building and the instruments to deploy to bring about developments in the various sectors of her economy.
“To actualize the digital economy of our dream as a nation, government should also build tech hubs, parks and experience centres through which people can now begin to practice these exponential technologies. Government should also encourage the private sector to be involved. We need a lot of that here in Nigeria, at least one in major cities of the country,” Woherem said.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has marked International Volunteer Day 2025 by celebrating the impact of the Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), a flagship initiative by which employees volunteer their time, expertise, and personal resources to advancing the Foundation’s mission across 14 African markets.
The celebration brought together volunteers at the Airtel Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos for moments of team bonding activities, testimonials, and volunteer spotlights. The event also served as a call to action, encouraging more employees to register for EVP activities and join the volunteer community.
The EVP has become a cornerstone of Airtel Africa Foundation’s community impact, empowering employees to drive local CSR initiatives and champion causes that promote education, digital skills, environmental responsibility, and youth empowerment. Through the programme, volunteers have contributed significantly to initiatives such as the International Day of Education Essay Competition, Teacher-for-a-Day sessions, beach clean-ups, market sensitisation exercises to reduce plastic waste, and the Airtel-3MTT NextGen Fellowship for young Nigerians.
Speaking about the celebration, Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, said, “International Volunteer Day reminds us that real impact begins with people who are willing to show up and serve. Today we honour the incredible dedication of Airtel employees, whose selfless commitment of time and talent is the engine behind our progress. Their contribution is the backbone of our work and the reason we continue to transform communities across Africa.”
Over the years, the EVP in Nigeria has delivered tangible outcomes through numerous impactful initiatives such as financial donations to the Lagos State Government COVID-19 control efforts. In 2025 alone, volunteers have contributed more than 200 hours of service, reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries.
Commenting on the commitment of Airtel Nigeria’s employees, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, said, “Volunteering is at the heart of who we are. Behind every empowered learner, every restored environment, and every connected community is an individual who believed in making a difference, and we are thankful for your participation. Our mission remains clear: to use technology, resources, and our collective humanity to build a digitally inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainable Africa.”
International Volunteer Day provides a global moment to honour volunteers whose contributions often go unseen but deliver lasting impact. As its EVP continues to grow, Airtel Africa Foundation remains committed to expanding access to education, digital literacy, environmental care, and opportunities for underserved communities across the continent.
Nigerian creators have emerged dominant at the 2025 TikTok Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa, winning six of the ten categories at the ceremony held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
TikTok Sub-Saharan Africa Awards
The awards, themed “New Era, New Icons”, celebrated outstanding creativity across the continent, with Nigeria’s victories underscoring its growing influence in digital culture and entertainment.
Raja’atu Muhammed Ibrahim, known as @diaryofanortherncook, from Sokoto, won the prestigious Creator of the Year Award, recognised for her cinematic storytelling of Northern Nigerian cuisine. Abuja-based Brian Nwana (@briannwana) clinched Storyteller of the Year, while Izzi Boye (@izziboye) was named Education Creator of the Year.
Other Nigerian winners included Belove Olocha (@beloveolocha) for Entertainment Creator of the Year, Dejoke Ogunbiyi (@noositiwantiwa_) for Social Impact Creator of the Year, and Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi (@theycallmeshallipopipp), who took home Artist of the Year.
Shallipopi, whose hit track “Laho” dominated African soundwaves in 2025, thanked TikTok for supporting upcoming artists and providing a platform to shine. “When Nigeria creates, the world moves,” he told fans during his acceptance speech.
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, praised the winners, noting that Nigerian creators had redefined what it means to be a digital storyteller. “Tonight’s ceremony was a gathering of trailblazers who turned short video clips into cultural movements,” she said.
Other winners from across the continent included Tanzania’s Fanuel John Masamaki (@zerobrainer0), who won Video of the Year, Kenya’s @tunero_animations as Rising Star of the Year, South Africa’s @malumfoodie for Food Creator of the Year, and Kenya’s @zozasportscast for Sports Creator of the Year.
The ceremony, supported by brands such as NIVEA, Coca-Cola, PEP, inDrive and Dis-Chem, will be broadcast exclusively on TikTok LIVE on Dec. 11 at 19:00 WAT via the @tiktok.africa account.
MTN Nigeria has announced the winners of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, a national innovation programme delivered in partnership with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria.
L – R: Promise Ogochukwu, OneGrid Energies; Emmanuel Ezea, OneGrid Energies, Lantana Elhassan, Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, UNDP Nigeria; Valentine Nnamani, OneGrid Energies; trio winner of the MTN 2025 Pachipanda Challenge, held at MTN RoofTop Plaza, Ikoyi.
The competition attracted over 2000 applications from young innovators across the country and concluded with a 3-day sprint event that featured masterclasses and pitch presentations at the MTN Rooftop Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos. Ten finalists, comprising seven individuals and three teams, competed for top honours following a rigorous multi-stage screening process.
Team OneGrid Energies emerged overall winner for its solution that addresses energy access in underserved communities. The team of Emmanuel Ezea, Ogochukwu Ogene, and Valentine Nnamani upcycle plastic bottles and e-waste lithium ion batteries to create affordable lanterns for households without reliable electricity. The team also introduced smart solar-powered charging stations operated by rural women, creating economic opportunities and supporting environmental impact.
Joshua Ndaman secured second place with his innovative solution, BuyScrap, a tech-driven platform that streamlines the collection and recycling of electronic waste. By ensuring that discarded electronics are ethically reused and repurposed, BuyScrap supports a circular economy and provides a reliable link between households and processors in the e-waste value chain.
Divine Peter secured third place with HopeForge Engineering, an initiative that designs and produces affordable recycling equipment for green businesses using recyclable materials. His focus on automating traditional manual equipment aims to increase productivity and make sustainable tools more accessible for small and medium-sized enterpriOlayinkases.
The winners received ₦3,000,000, ₦2,000,000, and ₦1,500,000 respectively. They will now represent Nigeria at the Africa PachiPanda Challenge where they will compete against champions from across the continent.
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, emphasised the importance of youth-led innovation in advancing climate action and community resilience. “Innovation should go beyond solving problems; it should be bankable and sustainable, ensuring long-term value for both society and the innovators themselves,” he noted.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of NCF, praised the creativity of the finalists, stating, “Every finalist here is a winner, and we will continue to work with partners like MTN, UNDP, and WWF to nurture these ideas and build a better future for Nigeria.”
Representing UNDP Nigeria, Lantana Elhassan, Head of Exploration, Accelerator Lab, described the potential of the finalists’ solutions to inspire systemic change across Africa’s innovation landscape. She highlighted the role of tech tools in helping participants improve their prototypes and scale their solutions.
During the event week, finalists received tailored training through masterclass sessions that enhance their business skills and strengthened their solutions. Facilitators included Bankole Oloruntoba, CEO, Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC); Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder & CEO, Instollar; Nifemi Oluboyede, Chief Product Officer, Credit Direct; and Uche Aniche, Founder, Rebel Seed Capital & Convener, Startup South.
Judges comprised experts in sustainability and innovation including Dr. Tiwalade Adeniyi, Head of ESG, Solon; Dr. William Tsuma, Chief Innovation Officer, UNDP Nigeria; Maximus Ugwuoke, Country Director, Carbon Craft Africa; Peju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; Temitope Okunnu, Founder, Fabe International; and Yewande Adeyi, Senior Manager, ESG Advisory Services, KPMG West Africa.
The Africa-wide finals will bring together leading innovators from across the continent to showcase their work to industry experts and investors.
For more information and updates on the winners’ journey, visit https://www.mtn.ng/sustainability or contact [email protected]
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