Stakeholders have called for collaboration in the bid to give a firm direction to Nigeria’s digital economy future.
Representing CEOs of all parastatals under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) Dr. Vincent Olatunji, made this appeal at the opening of the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference, envisioned as a gathering of visionaries and innovators determined to redefine Africa’s digital landscape.
Dr. Olatunji reminded the audience that the world is already deep into the digital era, where 18.8 billion connected devices serve a global population of just 8.2 billion people. “That’s more devices than humans,” he said, underscoring how technology now shapes everything, from commerce to communication, from governance to growth.
He however pointed out that in the midst of this transformation, Nigeria stands at a crossroads with abundant human capital, creativity, and resources to lead, but fragmented.
“We must build bridges between sectors, not silos,” he urged. “Our power lies in collaboration.”
Dr. Olatunji further spoke about Nigeria’s 65% tech-savvy youth population: “Technology is the only language they understand,” he said, describing them as the country’s secret weapon in the race toward global competitiveness.
He challenged innovators to channel their creativity into platforms that solve real problems, just as global disruptors like Uber, Booking.com, and Amazon have done, redefining industries without owning traditional assets.
Pointing to the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, which recently advanced to public hearing at the National Assembly, Dr. Olatunji called it a “landmark step” toward institutionalizing Nigeria’s digital transformation. The bill, he explained, will establish a unified legal framework for data governance, cybersecurity, and electronic transactions, creating the structure Nigeria needs to thrive in the global digital marketplace.
He also paid tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s early commitment to digital progress, reflected in his swift signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and to Dr. Bosun Tijani’s visionary leadership as Minister, whose technocratic approach continues to unite the ecosystem behind a shared mission of innovation and inclusion.
“We must come together, innovate together, and rise together. The time to act is now, because Nigeria’s place in the global digital economy will be defined by what we build, not what we wait for,” Dr. Olatunji concluded.
