The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s determination to build a $1 trillion digital economy, describing the government’s commitment as more than “mere rhetoric.”
Speaking with reporters during this year’s Global Privacy Day at the AATC Hotel in Abuja, Tijani said the administration has been “clear, consistent, and deliberate about its vision of achieving shared prosperity for Nigerians, including the ambition to build a $1 trillion economy.”
He noted that within a short period, the government has established strong institutions with regulatory authority to drive its digital agenda. “Our responsibility at the ministry is to ensure that digital technology serves as an enabler of shared prosperity, not just prosperity for a few, but for every Nigerian,” he said.
Highlighting the role of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Tijani described it as “one of such institutions with the requisite capacity for data protection and building digital trust as key pillars for Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic growth.”
He praised the commission for its leadership in advancing discussions on data privacy, noting that although the NDPC has existed for less than three years, it “has emerged as a strong institution within government and society.”
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Tijani stressed that technology is central to achieving the $1 trillion economy target, driving economic growth, infrastructure development, job creation, and improved public services.
He highlighted flagship projects under the ministry, including the Bridge Project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide, and MilCAP, an agro-connectivity initiative targeting the deployment of about 4,000 telecommunications towers in rural areas.
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The minister also announced plans to procure two additional communication satellites through NigComSat, pointing out that Nigeria is currently the only West African country with a functional communication satellite.
On human capital development, Tijani said Nigeria runs the largest technology talent accelerator in Africa, aimed at building a workforce capable of competing and creating value in the global digital economy.
He further emphasized the importance of data protection, stating, “Data protection and privacy are the foundation of trust. Without trust, our digital economy cannot succeed.”
Speaking at the event, NDPC National Commissioner/CEO Dr. Vincent Olatunji highlighted the commission’s achievements over the past three years, noting that it has generated over N5.2 billion for the government and created more than 23,000 jobs within the data privacy ecosystem, valued at approximately N16.2 billion.
Olatunji said the commission has investigated and concluded 246 data protection and privacy breaches across various institutions, with appropriate sanctions applied. He also revealed that about 8,155 compliance audit returns have been filed, while training programmes have been organised for compliance officers nationwide.
Additionally, the NDPC has launched the Youth Data Protection Awareness & Training Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to equip 5,000 Nigerian youths with digital literacy and data privacy skills.
Ongoing collaborations with the governments of Bauchi, Benue, Ondo, and Ekiti states are also underway to promote awareness and training on data protection and privacy
