Nigeria has once again reaffirmed its commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation through research, innovation, and collaborative governance.
This was made known as top government officials 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 declared the country’s readiness to lead in shaping the future of electronic governance.
The declaration was made at the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025 held at the Shehu Musa Yara’dua Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
ICEGOV was conceived in 2007 as an annual gathering to bring together academia, governments, international organisations, civil society, and industry to share the latest insights and experiences in the theory and practice of Electronic Governance.
It brings together diverse teams from multiple disciplines and cultures to tackle complex issues and emerging global challenges, with a focus on sustainable development, social inclusion, and active citizenship.
The 18th edition, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”, was chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof Tschilidzi Marwala and Dr. Bosun Tijani.
In his presentation, Prof Marwala called for the responsible and inclusive development of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must work for all people, including Africans, if it is to achieve its full potential as a tool for global progress.
He said that AI is rapidly transforming every aspect of human life but warned that its design and governance must prioritise equality, ethics, and the common good.
“Artificial intelligence is shaping many areas of our lives, but it must be designed so that it does not leave anyone behind. AI will remain suboptimal until it works equally for all people, including the people of Nigeria and, by extension, the African continent,” he said.
He concluded by urging policymakers, researchers, and technologists to view AI not merely as a tool of progress but as a moral responsibility, one that demands cooperation across nations and sectors to ensure that technological advancement strengthens humanity rather than divides it.
Dr. Tijani, in his keynote address, emphasised the need for balance between innovation, research, and regulation, stressing that digital technologies must serve the public good and strengthen social inclusion.
“Nigeria stands at the intersection of innovation, youth, and digital transformation. The state of a society reflects the ideas that dominate it. When good ideas strike, nations prosper; when bad ideas prevail, nations decay,” he said.
He introduced the “Source Balance Ratio”, a conceptual model explaining how ideas from various stakeholders, government, civil society, academia, private sector, and development partners shape public policy.
According to him, nations must ensure that policymaking is guided by research and ethics, not short-term politics or commercial interests.
While noting that platforms like the ICEGOV help strike a balance to ensure innovation serves humanity, the Minister warned that, “If our ideas are driven solely by profit or short-term politics, we end up with regulations that react to innovation rather than guide it.”
