Thursday, September 4, 2025 - From October 1, the federal
government will begin funding 75 fresh research projects in digital innovation,
while also working with global technology giants to establish hyperscale data
centres in Nigeria.
The twin
initiatives, announced at the GITEX Nigeria 2025 event in Lagos, are part of a
broader national strategy to strengthen the country’s digital ecosystem, secure
data sovereignty, and position Nigeria as a leading hub for innovation in
Africa.
Minister
of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the new research
support scheme will be implemented through the National Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA) and will target researchers,
startups, corporates, and the Nigerian diaspora.
“On
October 1, we will launch a scheme to support another 75 research projects.
Such investments are critical to cementing Nigeria’s role in the global digital
economy,” Tijani stated.
The
minister noted that government alone cannot build the scale of infrastructure
required for a thriving digital economy. He emphasized the role of startups,
corporates, and innovators in the diaspora in driving growth.
“Startups can help us scale, corporates can help innovate.
We invite you to build on our investment as a government and contribute to
Nigeria and the world,” he told stakeholders at the conference.
Tijani also pointed to Lagos as one of the world’s
fastest-growing cities, welcoming nearly 2,000 new residents daily,
underscoring the urgency of expanding digital infrastructure as a national
priority. He stressed that Nigeria’s digital policy must go beyond catching up
with other nations and focus instead on building resilient systems that can
sustain long-term innovation.
In a related announcement, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu
Inuwa Abdullahi, revealed that the agency is working with major global tech
companies and hyperscalers to set up hyperscale data centres in Nigeria. He
explained that this move is part of the government’s “Cloud First Strategy”
designed to ensure data sovereignty and boost local digital capacity.
“Today, Nigeria lacks true data sovereignty. Our data is
controlled by platforms like social media, Google, and Microsoft, which shape
what we see, what we believe, and even what we buy. We are now partnering with
Big Tech and developing new laws to build hyperscale data centre capacity
within Nigeria,” Abdullahi said.
He further disclosed that Nigeria is drafting a “National
Artificial Intelligence Strategy,” which will set standards for AI adoption and
define an ethical framework for its use.
Alongside this, the forthcoming “Online Harm Protection
Bill” is expected to harmonize online and offline regulations.
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