In a significant step for Nigeria’s digital landscape, the government has announced a collaboration with the United Nations University (UNU) to establish new research institutes focusing on digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence and digital skills. During recent talks between Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and UNU Rector Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, the two parties agreed to work toward setting up one UNU-branded institute in Nigeria, along with two additional research hubs — one for AI and the other for digital literacy.
Dr. Tijani conveyed optimism that at least one of these initiatives would launch during his tenure, underscoring Nigeria’s intent to become a lead player in Africa’s digital research ecosystem.
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Strategic areas of collaboration
The partnership between Nigeria and UNU centres on three main pillars: digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills & literacy. The planned flagship institute will focus on digital public infrastructure — a foundational layer for digital services, governance and inclusive development. UNU and Nigeria also discussed establishing a dedicated AI research hub in collaboration with UNU’s Bologna-based AI institute, and a separate hub devoted to enhancing digital competency across Nigeria’s workforce and society.
This multi-pronged approach acknowledges that building cutting-edge digital capacity isn’t only about high-level research: it also requires investment in people, systems and infrastructure. Nigeria’s recognition of this holistic view positions the country to better compete in the global digital economy.
Why this matters
For Nigeria, the collaboration is significant on several fronts:
- Research capability: The establishment of the UNU institute will bring international research standards, global networks and best-practice frameworks to Nigeria’s digital innovation space.
- Talent development: By focusing on digital skills and literacy, the initiative aims to raise the bar for Nigeria’s human capacity in tech and innovation, equipping young professionals, researchers and policymakers with tools for the future.
- Infrastructure readiness: Digital public infrastructure underpins services like e-government, digital ID systems, open data, broadband access and more. Having a dedicated research body focused on this means Nigeria can proactively design and evaluate such systems.
- Economic diversification: As Nigeria seeks to diversify away from oil and build a resilient, innovation-driven economy, this partnership aligns with that vision by supporting tech-enabled growth, job creation and competitiveness.
- Regional leadership: By hosting UNU institutes, Nigeria reinforces its role as a leading hub for digital research and development in Africa, potentially attracting investment, talent and partnerships.
Dr. Tijani’s hope that “at least one of these initiatives would be launched before the end of his tenure” confirms the government’s commitment to seeing tangible progress.
Path ahead: what to watch and potential challenges
While the announcement is promising, several factors will determine how successful this collaboration becomes:
- Timely implementation: Launching the institute(s), recruiting staff, building governance structures and securing sustainable funding will all require coordinated effort and political will.
- Alignment with national priorities: To have real impact, the research output must align with Nigeria’s digital economy strategy, regulatory framework, and infrastructure realities (including power, connectivity, access and inclusion).
- Capacity building beyond quantity: Ensuring that digital skills and literacy are delivered across broad segments of society — including rural areas, underserved communities and across gender lines — will be crucial for inclusive outcomes.
- Sustainable funding and resources: Research institutes succeed when they enjoy stable budgets, access to cutting-edge equipment, partnerships with industry and academia, and autonomy to innovate.
- Measurable outcomes: To justify public and international investment, the institutions will need to show measurable impact in areas like job creation, service improvement, tech export, and digital inclusion.
- Coordination across stakeholders: Success will depend on engaging universities, the private sector, government agencies, civic society and international partners, avoiding duplication and enabling synergy.
If Nigeria meets these conditions, the collaboration could mark a transformative moment in its digital evolution.
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