Nigeria’s technology sector needs stronger digital infrastructure to translate the country’s growing connectivity into increased productivity, innovation and economic opportunities, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has said.
Oduwole stressed the need for greater investment in fibre optic networks, data centres, cloud infrastructure, digital platforms, electronic payment systems and secure data systems, describing them as critical foundations for a productive digital economy. She said expanding connectivity should go beyond providing access to the internet to enabling businesses and technology companies to use digital infrastructure to create value and improve productivity.
The minister’s position highlights the growing importance of infrastructure to Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, where startups, fintech companies, software developers, digital service providers and other technology businesses increasingly depend on reliable connectivity, cloud services and data infrastructure. Improved access to these facilities could strengthen the capacity of technology businesses to develop and deploy digital products while also supporting the expansion of technology enabled services.
The development also places greater emphasis on the need for Nigeria to build an environment where digital infrastructure can support innovation, entrepreneurship and participation in the global technology economy. As demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, e commerce and other digital services continues to grow, industry stakeholders say reliable infrastructure will remain central to the ability of Nigerian technology companies to scale and compete beyond the domestic market.