From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Federal Government has said over 200 researchers will be engaged under its N12 billion digital economy programme, aimed at deepening research, innovation and data-driven policymaking in the sector.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday, noting that the programme is a key component of Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth).
Tijani said the initiative, structured around six thematic research clusters, would bring together top academics across Nigerian universities to focus on critical areas of the digital economy over the next three years.
According to him, each cluster will be led by up to six professors, supported by postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, significantly expanding the country’s research capacity.
Tijani explained that the N12 billion funding, backed by the World Bank, would provide $1.5 million for each cluster, with additional resources expected through international collaborations. He stressed that the initiative is designed to move the country away from isolated academic work to a collaborative, impact-driven research model that directly informs government policy and industry decisions.
According to him, the National Digital Economy Research Clusters would help Nigeria generate homegrown solutions tailored to its unique challenges, rather than relying on imported ideas.
Tijani further noted that the programme would prioritise merit and track record in the selection of participating researchers, insisting that it would not be based on federal character or personal connections.
Highlighting the broader digital economy drive of the administration of Bola Tinubu, the minister said Nigeria is currently undertaking one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure investments in the developing world.
“We cannot continue to depend on solutions developed elsewhere. We must build knowledge rooted in our own realities if we want effective policies and sustainable growth. In each cluster, you are looking at a minimum of 18 postdoctoral researchers and 18 PhD students, and when you aggregate that across all clusters, you are talking about over 200 researchers working on critical national issues. It is not about who you know. It is about whether you have the competence and proven work in the areas you are applying for,” he stated.
The minister further disclosed that Nigeria’s digital economy contribution to Gross Domestic Product has risen from about 16–18 per cent to nearly 20 per cent, with a target of 21 per cent in the near term.
On innovation, he said government-backed investments in artificial intelligence have already begun yielding results, with dozens of peer-reviewed research outputs and practical applications emerging from recently funded projects.
He also challenged the media to go beyond routine reporting and hold the government accountable for the delivery of the programme.
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative would help shift Nigeria’s academic culture from theoretical research to practical impact, including the commercialisation of research outputs.
Alausa said that the programme aligns with broader efforts to strengthen digital skills, innovation and youth empowerment across the country.
The Minister expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen the nation’s research ecosystem, drive job creation, support private sector growth and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
“Education is the bedrock of society, and this programme will help our universities move from theory to innovation that changes lives,” he said.
On her part, Vice‑Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Mrs Ebunoluwa Oduwole, thanked the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for the visionary Project BRIDGE and emphasised that recognising the need for data and statistics is a major achievement.
Oduwole noted that accurate data collection, such as knowing how many students or staff a university actually has, is critical for planning, innovation, and success in initiatives like the National Digital Economy Research Clusters.
She said the focus on data and collaboration will bring meaningful success to the project, noting that partnerships between Nigerian universities, foreign institutions, and research bodies is crucial to strengthening outcomes.
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