Nigeria has pledged 9 million dollars, about ₦12 billion, to a new national research programme aimed at strengthening policymaking and speeding up the country’s shift to a knowledge driven digital economy. The initiative, known as the National Digital Economy Research Clusters Initiative, was launched in Abuja through a joint effort by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The programme brings together universities and research institutions to focus on key areas such as internet access, digital infrastructure, skills development, jobs, online safety, and artificial intelligence. The goal is to produce research that can directly guide government decisions while also encouraging stronger collaboration between schools and policymakers. By doing this, the government hopes to ensure that its digital policies are based on local knowledge and real data.
Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, explained that Nigeria must begin to generate its own ideas instead of depending on solutions from other countries. He stressed that the digital economy depends heavily on knowledge and innovation. The government also noted that the sector is already growing, contributing close to 20 percent to the country’s GDP, with expectations that it will rise further in the near future.
On his part, Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the initiative will help universities play a bigger role in solving real life problems, not just teaching in classrooms. He added that the programme will also support the training of advanced researchers, including PhD and postdoctoral scholars, helping to build the skilled workforce needed to drive Nigeria’s digital future.