Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has urged Nigerian youth to take the lead in driving Africa’s digital transformation, emphasising that the nation’s young population holds the key to a prosperous and inclusive future.

Delivering his opening remarks at the three-day Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, Inuwa extended heartfelt appreciation to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his presence, describing it as a powerful demonstration that this administration cares deeply about our youth.

The conference provides a dynamic platform for ecosystem stakeholders to showcase their work and explore emerging trends aimed at transforming the nation and continent’s digital future.

Organised by NITDA, the Digital Nigeria Conference serves as a platform that bridges government and industry, fostering collaboration between policymakers, innovators, and private-sector leaders. It aims to harmonise regulatory frameworks, promote public–private partnerships, and drive the effective implementation of Nigeria’s national digital strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth.

Inuwa noted that the conference’s theme, Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification through digitalisation, industrialisation and innovation.

Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, also speaking at the event reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy, calling on stakeholders across sectors to work together to achieve Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.

Dr Tijani described the annual gathering as more than a conventional technology conference. According to him, Digital Nigeria serves as a national platform for dialogue, collaboration, and actionable strategies that will shape the country’s future in the digital era.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to Digital Nigeria 2025, something I consider to be a dialogue, but also collaboration and action towards building a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy for our nation. This event reminds us of what digital truly means for our past as a people, our present reality, and the future we are striving to build,” he mentioned.

Dr Tijani took the audience on a reflective journey through Nigeria’s digital history, noting that the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry in 1999 was a bold, transformative decision that changed the trajectory of the nation’s economy.

“That decision marked the beginning of a new economy built on ideas and innovation. The introduction of mobile connectivity reshaped how Nigerians live, work, and connect, fuelling a digital revolution that continues to expand opportunities for millions,” the Minister explained.

He emphasised that the ripple effect of that single reform continues to be felt across sectors and further noted that the digital economy now contributes about 18 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a clear demonstration of the sector’s growing importance as a driver of national growth and economic diversification.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s global leadership in financial technology (fintech) innovation, citing the country’s advanced digital payment systems and thriving startup ecosystem.

“Today, Nigeria boasts one of the most efficient and responsive payment systems in the world. Transactions that take hours or even days elsewhere are completed instantly here. This innovation has produced five of Africa’s nine technology unicorns, companies each valued at over a billion dollars,” Tijani stated.

Senator Kashim Shettima, the Nigerian Vice President, in his remarks stated that the country is on the cusp of a historic transformation as the government advances toward passing the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill into law.

He described the bill as a cornerstone of the nation’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy powered by digital innovation. Emphasizing its significance, he noted that the bill represents more than legislative reform—it is “a strategic leap toward embedding technology into the fabric of governance, economic planning, and national development.”

Drawing a compelling parallel with Nigeria’s cashless policy, which catalysed the fintech revolution, the Vice President said the anticipated impact of the new bill would ignite a govtech revolution.

“Just as the cashless policy unlocked the fintech revolution, this new bill will unlock the govtech revolution—an era of smarter governance, greater transparency, and inclusive service delivery,” he declared.

He explained that this new era would be defined by smarter governance, greater transparency, and inclusive service delivery, all driven by digital tools and infrastructure. He stressed that the bill is part of a broader national strategy to position Nigeria as a global leader in digital innovation, with the potential to transform every sector of society.

He highlighted that Nigeria, with over 220 million people and an average age of 18, stands at a critical crossroads, one that could either unleash unprecedented prosperity or deepen socio-economic challenges if the nation fails to harness the creativity of its youth.

“If we harness the energy, the creativity and talent of our youth, we are not just going to power Nigeria, but we can power the entire Africa into a new era of prosperity. But if we fail to do that, if we fail to skill our youth, if we fail to provide a platform for them to create value, we are stunting the most valuable asset we have as a nation,” he noted.

The NITDA DG revealed that the 2025 edition of the conference has attracted over 4,800 participants from 12 countries and 25 Nigerian states, making it both a national and international gathering of innovators, policymakers, and investors.

He said, “This year’s event features 12 keynote sessions, 23 panel discussions, five workshops, and two expert masterclasses across five thematic tracks.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that Nigeria’s quickest path to catching up with developed economies lies in digital innovation and the creation of a vibrant national tech ecosystem.

Pic credit…… solutionshub.epam.com

Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ forum on technology and innovation on Tuesday, Shettima said Nigeria is “endowed with one of the world’s most vibrant pools of talent,” stressing that the success of the nation, and indeed the continent depends on how effectively it harnesses this human capital for innovation-driven growth.

“If there is any standout route through which we can catch up with developed economies, it lies in digital innovation,” he said.

“We are endowed with vibrant minds, and our success as a people can only be guaranteed by us.”

The Vice President urged a shift from surface-level digital adoption to deep-tech innovation capable of addressing national challenges in sectors such as agriculture, health, logistics, and governance.

He said Nigeria must focus on developing a digital ecosystem that functions seamlessly across the country — from Lagos and Abuja to Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Bauchi.

“We must move beyond mere applications to building foundational, deep-tech solutions that respond to the real needs of our people,” he added.

Outlining the nation’s long-term strategy, the VP said the government’s digital transformation agenda rests on three core pillars: People, Infrastructure, and Policy.

He explained that the People pillar focuses on building a “holistic pipeline of digital talent” through digital literacy integration in schools and national inclusion programs, while the Infrastructure pillar emphasizes broadband connectivity to power a truly digital economy.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC) has called for stricter penalty for cyber-violence crime, especially revenge porn.

At a workshop in Nigeria, Cheikh Touré, Nigeria Country Representative, rallied stakeholders in the security sector to address the growing incidence of revenge pornography.

Touré, noted that cyber-violence of revenge porn is one of the most deeply personal forms of online harm that demands urgent attention to tackle because it tramples on human dignity and inflicts life-long emotional harm on victims.

He spoke  at the opening of a three-day workshop on Cybercrime and Violence Against Women Through Information and Communication Technologies, (ICT), themed ‘Cyber-Interpersonal Violence: The Challenge of Responding to Revenge Porn,’ on Tuesday in Abuja,

Touré further said: “The non-consensual sharing of intimate images, commonly and painfully known as revenge porn is not just a technical issue, it’s not just a legal challenge, it is a profound violation of privacy, dignity, autonomy and security.

“It is a form of violence that leaves scars, not only on skins, but in lives and it is disproportionately affecting women though lets me be clear, it impacts men, young people and individuals from all walks of life. The trauma is universal, the devastation can be lifelong.”

The Country Representative stated that the United Nations Convention on Against Cybercrime, (UNCAC), also known as Hanoi  Convention remains the key global legal instrument in combating all forms of cybercrimes as it has provisions that enable countries work together to fight the menace.

Touré, while urging participants to work together in understanding how to use the UNCAC to protect the public, said: “This workshop is not just about legal framework, this is about people, it’s about prevention, it’s about healing.

“It means closing jurisdictional gaps, so no perpetrator can hide behind borders and or technology. And overall, it means ensuring no survivor is left without justice, safety or support. And this is about building a Nigeria in a world where the digital space is not a battlefield for dignity, but a place where rights are protected.”

On her part, Kristin Wæringsaasen, deputy head of Mission of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, said her government is solidly behind the UNODC, and willing to offer support to ensure the fight against the cybercrime of revenge porn and other cyber-violence are brought to a halt.

She said Norway’s partnership reflects a growing international commitment to addressing the complex challenges posed by technology-enabled violence.

Wæringsaasen said: “Digital technologies have transformed our societies in a profound way, they are open up new avenues for education, economic growth, civic engagement and global connectivity. But alongside these opportunities we are witnessing the emergence of new and deeply concerning forms of violence, particularly against women and girls.

“Cyber-related violence, including online harassment, exploitation and abuse, is not confined to virtual spaces, it has real world consequences, undermining safety, dignity and human rights. It’s enforcing existing inequalities and creates new barriers to participation, especially for women and girls.”

She however assured that Norway is proud to support UNODC, both globally and here in Nigeria through its development cooperation which aims to promote inclusive governance, human rights and the rule of law.

She said: “We believe that a strong and coordinated response to cyber-related violence is essential to achieving these goals. This workshop is an opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity and build a mutual sector response that is both effective and sustainable.

“It is also a chance to centre the voices of survivors, civil society and youth, whose experience and insights must guide our effort.”