Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership role in driving Africa’s digital transformation through innovation, research, and collaborative governance. This commitment was spotlighted at the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
Led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Nigerian delegation declared the nation’s readiness to shape the future of digital governance in Africa.
ICEGOV, which began in 2007, serves as a global platform uniting governments, academia, international organizations, civil society, and industry to exchange insights on the theory and practice of electronic governance. This year’s edition, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion,” was chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, alongside Dr. Tijani.
In his address, Prof. Marwala emphasized the need for inclusive and ethical development of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must serve all of humanity, including Africans. He described AI as a transformative force that must be guided by transparency, fairness, and shared governance. According to him, democratizing AI involves not only giving people access to use it but also empowering them to collectively decide how it should be applied. He urged global leaders to see AI not just as a tool for progress but as a moral responsibility requiring cooperation across nations to ensure it uplifts humanity rather than deepens inequality.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, in his keynote speech, highlighted the importance of striking a balance between innovation, research, and regulation to ensure that technology serves the public good and fosters inclusion. He noted that Nigeria stands at a unique intersection of innovation, youth, and digital transformation, adding that the progress of a society depends on the strength and quality of its ideas. Introducing his “Source Balance Ratio” model, Dr. Tijani explained how collaboration among stakeholders, government, academia, civil society, and the private sector, can drive effective and ethical policymaking. He warned that when innovation is driven solely by profit or politics, regulation becomes reactive rather than proactive. The minister emphasized that research-led policymaking is critical to sustaining innovation, urging developing nations to strengthen ties between academia and government.
Dr. Tijani commended ICEGOV as an essential platform for global knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the promotion of ethical digital governance, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He concluded by reminding participants that digital technologies are no longer just economic tools but powerful instruments for shaping society, inclusion, and citizenship.
In his remarks, NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, described ICEGOV 2025 as a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest to build a resilient and inclusive digital governance ecosystem. He revealed that the decision to host the global event was inspired by Dr. Tijani’s vision following Nigeria’s participation in ICEGOV 2024 in South Africa, where the Minister underscored the importance of deep research and investment in digital innovation.
Inuwa outlined Nigeria’s ongoing efforts under the Ministry’s Strategic Plan for Accelerating National Prosperity through Technical Efficiency, which rests on five pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital. He highlighted several initiatives reflecting progress across these areas, including the National Digital Literacy Framework designed to equip Nigerians with digital skills from early education through adulthood, partnerships with the Ministry of Education to embed digital literacy into school curricula, and collaborations with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to train public servants, over 24,000 of whom have already enrolled. He also spotlighted the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme aimed at equipping Nigerians with in-demand digital skills, alongside nationwide campaigns bringing digital education to traders, transport workers, and senior citizens.
Inuwa further announced the development of key Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) projects, such as a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI, both designed to strengthen Nigeria’s governance architecture and promote Africa’s digital self-determination. He reaffirmed that digital transformation is not solely about technology but about improving how government serves its citizens, meeting them where they are, online.
Notable dignitaries at the event included the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by Mrs. Fatima S.T. Mahmood; Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu; and Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, among others. They commended Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to advancing digital governance, applauding ICEGOV 2025 as a catalyst for ethical innovation, data-driven policymaking, and institutional collaboration.
Their collective remarks underscored that the success of Nigeria’s digital transformation depends on multilateral cooperation, institutional capacity-building, and the development of resilient digital infrastructure that fosters transparency, interoperability, and trust. Aligning national digital strategies with global standards in AI governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technology regulation, they noted, will ensure that Nigeria and the African continent remain competitive in the global digital economy.
As the curtains closed on ICEGOV 2025, one message resonated throughout the gathering: the future of governance lies in innovation driven by ethics, research, and inclusion and Nigeria is ready to lead that charge.
