Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday declared open the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition 2025 in Abuja, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to building a robust digital economy and stabilizing the nation’s financial system.
In his keynote address, Shettima said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had succeeded in bringing an end to what he described as “regimes of volatility and unpredictability” that once characterized Nigeria’s economy.
He explained that the government’s ongoing economic and technological reforms were designed to restore confidence, attract investors, and ensure sustainable growth.
According to the Vice President, “The world is taking note of the steady course the nation is maintaining. What this administration has achieved is to end the regimes of volatility and unpredictability that once defined our economy. The phase before us now is to ensure that these macroeconomic gains trickle down to the people — from the kiosks of our neighborhood traders to the boardrooms of our multinational corporations.”
Shettima noted that the world is currently undergoing rapid transformation driven by digital technology, adding that Nigeria must not miss the opportunity to fully participate in the ongoing global digital revolution.
“We did what we have done because we can no longer apply 20th-century solutions to 21st-century problems,” he said.
He stressed that the government is determined to build a digital ecosystem that functions efficiently across all parts of the country.
“We need a digital ecosystem that works as seamlessly in Lagos as it does in Abuja, in Port Harcourt, in Kano, in Gusau, and across every corner of our nation,” he declared.
The Vice President emphasized that Nigeria could no longer lament its absence from the first, second, and third industrial revolutions. Instead, he said, the digital era offers the nation a chance for “redemption and redefinition.”
“Nigeria cannot keep lamenting its absence at the table in the previous Industrial Revolutions when this current digital wave has offered us a redemptive opportunity to define our own terms in the next chapter of global progress,” Shettima said.
He added that the administration is already putting in place policies that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, especially among young Nigerians.
“On policy, we are creating an enabling environment that encourages innovation,” he assured.
Highlighting the impact of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, Shettima pointed out that international financial agencies have started acknowledging Nigeria’s progress.
He cited Fitch Ratings’ upgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating to ‘B’ with a stable outlook, as well as Moody’s improvement of Nigeria’s issuer rating to B3, both of which, he said, signal renewed global confidence in the country’s economy.
“These independent assessments show that the reforms we have undertaken are producing tangible results. The global community is recognizing Nigeria’s steady recovery and policy direction,” the Vice President noted.
He described the achievements as proof that Nigeria’s economy is moving from uncertainty to stability under President Tinubu’s leadership.
The Digital Nigeria International Conference, organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is one of the country’s biggest annual events in the tech sector.
It brings together policymakers, innovators, investors, and youth entrepreneurs to discuss ways to expand Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy.
This year’s theme, according to organizers, focuses on building an inclusive and innovative digital ecosystem that can drive national development and create jobs for millions of Nigerians.
In his remarks at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, praised President Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing technology and innovation as key drivers of economic growth.
Tijani said the government’s ongoing digital policy reforms are focused on boosting infrastructure, expanding broadband access, and encouraging local technology startups.
“These enabling digital policies are already on course to boost the country’s digital infrastructure,” he said. “This platform is an opportunity for stakeholders to deepen collaboration so that Nigeria can become a global model for technology adoption and shared prosperity.”
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, commended the Vice President for his continuous support of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. He said Shettima’s leadership and dedication reflect the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to use technology as a tool for national development and youth empowerment.
Abdullahi noted that the federal government’s vision is to create an environment where young Nigerians can use technology to solve local and global challenges.
“Our collective ambition is to engage our youth and provide platforms that empower them to solve national problems,” the NITDA boss said. “We will continue to work hard until that goal becomes a reality.”
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, spoke about the growing importance of data protection and cybersecurity in the digital age.
He said that with the increasing use of multiple devices and the rise in global digital activities, data protection has become central to economic security.
“The rise of connected devices presents huge socio-economic opportunities but also challenges. Our role is to ensure that Nigerians can safely participate in the digital economy while protecting their data and privacy,” Olatunji explained.
Nigeria’s push toward digital transformation gained momentum under previous administrations but has accelerated significantly under President Tinubu.
The government’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasizes digital innovation as a major pillar of national development, alongside economic diversification and infrastructure growth.
In 2023, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy launched several initiatives, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, aimed at training young Nigerians in technology skills such as software development, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
The goal, according to the ministry, is to make Nigeria a leading digital talent hub in Africa and a competitive player in the global tech ecosystem.
Nigeria’s tech sector, now one of the fastest-growing in Africa, contributes over 15% to the nation’s GDP, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The sector is also home to several global startups and fintech companies such as Flutterwave, Paystack, and Interswitch.
As the conference continues, stakeholders are expected to deliberate on strategies to enhance digital literacy, strengthen cybersecurity, and encourage investment in innovation-driven enterprises.
Vice President Shettima urged participants to take the discussions seriously, emphasizing that digital transformation is central to Nigeria’s long-term prosperity.
“The next phase of our journey is to make sure the benefits of digital technology reach every Nigerian,” he said. “From our market women and farmers to our entrepreneurs and engineers — no one should be left behind.”
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to building a strong digital economy that works for all citizens.
