The Federal Government has announced plans to unveil a N12 billion Digital Economy Research Fund aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s long-term digital transformation and improving policy formulation across the sector.
Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed the development over the weekend, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention to embed research and evidence at the core of Nigeria’s digital economy planning.
According to him, the fund will support the establishment of National Digital Economy Research Clusters, designed to generate policy-relevant insights that will guide the country’s digital future.
Tijani explained that the initiative is being financed under Project BRIDGE, a federal government programme focused on deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure nationwide.
The project is expected to significantly expand connectivity and lay the foundation for a modern, inclusive digital economy.
He emphasised that as Nigeria deepens its digital infrastructure, there is a growing need for well-informed, research-driven strategies to ensure that the benefits of such investments are equitably distributed across society.
“Too often, digital policy is shaped by market dynamics and political cycles rather than grounded research and long-term thinking,” Tijani noted, stressing the importance of shifting towards a more evidence-based approach.
The minister revealed that the programme will establish six specialised research clusters covering critical areas of the digital economy.
These include connectivity and meaningful use, digital public infrastructure and government services, digital skills and human capital development, digital economy and job creation, online trust and consumer protection, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The research clusters are expected to be led by up to 36 professors from Nigerian universities in collaboration with international academic partners.
Additionally, over 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, will participate in generating insights to support policy development.
Tijani underscored that the broader objective of the initiative extends beyond academic output, focusing instead on strengthening institutions and fostering sustainable economic growth through informed policymaking.
He described the fund as one of the ministry’s most impactful programmes, expressing confidence that it will produce enduring ideas capable of shaping Nigeria’s digital landscape beyond the lifespan of any single administration.
The initiative, he added, reflects the government’s recognition that countries that dominate the future digital economy are not only those that invest in infrastructure but also those that prioritise knowledge creation and innovation.
