President Tinubu reaffirms commitment to digital economy, youth jobs, empowerment

President Bola Tinubu has promised that the government will keep prioritising the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, with a focus on creating jobs and empowering young people.

The President made the statement on Monday in Abuja while receiving a report titled “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,” presented by participants from the Senior Executive Course 46 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.

This was contained in a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and made available to journalists on Monday.

The group of 96 participants made several recommendations, including speeding up the passage of the Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2024 and encouraging states to waive fees for telecoms infrastructure. They also suggested that the President issue an Executive Order requiring all government agencies to use the OneGov.ng portal.

Other recommendations included adopting a Quintuple-Helix Model to boost the digital economy and job creation, promoting long-term funding for the 3MTT scheme, and setting up Digital Health Innovation Hubs across Nigeria.

President Tinubu responded by directing the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy to work with the group and present the recommendations to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of the Civil Service to ensure smooth implementation.

He emphasised the importance of youth empowerment through innovation and digital skills, saying: “At the core of our administration is youth empowerment. We cannot relent on that, and we need everyone’s collaboration. I have listened carefully to your recommendations and the thorough work you did. We will continue to engage the Institute as a resource centre and Think Tank.”

The President also discussed the importance of data for national planning and mentioned a recent meeting with officials from the National Population Commission (NPC) regarding the upcoming census.

Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director-General of NIPSS, highlighted the opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy, noting that technology-driven industries such as Fintech, Agri-Tech, and AI are key to building a strong economy. However, he pointed out challenges such as lack of infrastructure, digital skills, and regulatory hurdles, which need to be addressed through targeted policies.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, revealed that the Digital Economy Bill would undergo public hearings in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before being passed in mid-2025. He also announced that 11 states had agreed to waive Right of Way fees, which will help expand broadband infrastructure. The government is also making progress in transitioning to IPv6, and a major investment in fibre optic cables is underway to provide nationwide broadband coverage.

Finance Minister Wale Edun noted that the ICT sector contributed 16% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2024 and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the sector for economic growth and job creation.

He also mentioned that tech company Flutterwave is considering listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, a move expected to strengthen the tech ecosystem.