Nigeria is placing high bets on a youth-powered digital future — with national technology authorities urging that the country’s young population must lead the charge for digital sovereignty and economic renewal.
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A pivotal moment for Africa’s most populous nation
At a recent three-day conference organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), its Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, declared that the entire trajectory of Africa’s broader digital transformation could be determined here in Nigeria — if its youth are given the platform to excel.
With a population exceeding 220 million and a median age of about 18, Nigeria stands at a historic crossroads. According to Inuwa, how the nation chooses to mobilise its youthful energy now will shape not only domestic prosperity but the continent’s digital ascent.
The conference — billed as more than just a gathering — brought together policymakers, tech entrepreneurs, global industry leaders and development partners. Together, they explored emerging trends likely to define Nigeria’s (and Africa’s) digital future, while seeking to align regulation, industry growth and public–private partnerships for sustainable, inclusive digital expansion.
Digital sovereignty: Beyond tech for tech’s sake
In his address, Inuwa explained that the theme of this year’s gathering — “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness” — directly ties into the government’s broader vision for economic diversification through innovation and digitisation under the Renewed Hope Agenda
But for Inuwa, embracing digital transformation goes beyond simply embracing new tools — it’s about building a self-reliant digital economy. That means constructing and owning local infrastructure, data systems, cloud services and compute capacity — not outsourcing them. “We are building systems that protect our data, empower our people, and strengthen our capacity to innovate locally,” he said.
That aspiration, he argued, is central to achieving “digital sovereignty” — ensuring Nigeria not only consumes digital services, but designs, deploys and defends them within its own borders. This, he emphasised, is how the nation cannot only remain resilient, but chart an independent course in the global digital economy.
High stakes: Youth as engine of transformation — or growing risk
For NITDA and other stakeholders, the argument is compelling. If Nigeria manages to harness its youth’s energy, creativity, and talent, it could leapfrog into a new era of economic growth and continental leadership. But if the youth are left under-skilled or without adequate platforms, the risk is deepening socio-economic vulnerability.
This concern is far from hypothetical. Another recent report found that the nation’s anticipated US$15 billion artificial-intelligence windfall by 2030 could vanish if Nigeria fails to close its widening digital-skills gap.
Right now, a troubling picture emerges: while some parts of the population race ahead in digital adoption, many are still locked out due to a lack of infrastructure, limited access to broadband, inadequate digital literacy, and a mismatch between education and industry needs.
Charting a path forward with youth at the centre
The message is clear: Nigeria’s pivot toward a stable, home-grown, digitally enabled economy hinges on youth empowerment. To achieve this, several initiatives are already underway: expanding broadband access, scaling up identity and cybersecurity systems, training talent in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, supporting startups, and fostering public-private partnerships.
But even beyond government efforts, there is growing momentum among private and civic actors. For instance, youth-focused hackathons and innovation programmes are becoming increasingly common — designed to harness youthful creativity for solutions to social and economic challenges, while enhancing employability and entrepreneurship.
One key aspiration is that every young Nigerian — regardless of background — should have the chance to contribute, whether as a software developer, digital entrepreneur, data analyst or infrastructure builder. It is only by building local capability, not relying solely on foreign providers, that Nigeria can safeguard its digital autonomy and chart an inclusive digital future.
In this endeavour, youth aren’t just participants — they are the foundation. As NITDA’s leadership underscored, Nigeria’s most valuable asset may well be its young population. The task now is to equip them, empower them, and trust them to lead.
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