• Nigeria commits 12 billion naira ($8.6 million) to a national digital economy research program.
• The initiative supports a broader $2 billion plan to deploy 90,000 km of fiber optic infrastructure.
• Authorities target ICT contribution of 22% of GDP by 2027.

Nigerian authorities plan to allocate 12 billion naira ($8.6 million) to a national research program on the digital economy. The program aims to strengthen institutions and ensure that the digital transition benefits the entire society by relying on scientific evidence rather than short-term decision-making.

The program, called the National Digital Economy Research Clusters (NDERC), forms part of the BRIDGE project, a national initiative that plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure across the country to improve connectivity and support the development of a modern digital economy. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, announced a call for expressions of interest on Sunday, March 29.

Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters— a ₦12 billion research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

This… pic.twitter.com/UfDrbPVHUX

— Dr. 'Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) March 28, 2026

“As we deepen our digital infrastructure coverage , thoughtful evidence based approaches are required to be deployed in society to ensure everyone benefits from this significant investment. Too often, the ideas shaping digital policy come predominantly from markets and political cycles rather than from research, evidence, and long-term thinking,” the minister said in a statement published on his social media channels.

The NDERC plans to establish six research clusters covering strategic areas, including connectivity, digital public infrastructure, digital skills and education, digital economy and employment, security and consumer protection, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The program will mobilize 36 professors from 36 Nigerian universities in collaboration with international academic partners. It will also involve more than 200 researchers to produce rigorous scientific work that policymakers can directly use.

The program aligns with the Nigerian government’s ambition to use digital technology as a driver of socio-economic development. The government expects information and communication technologies to contribute 22% of gross domestic product by 2027.

Meanwhile, authorities expect the BRIDGE project to create new employment opportunities, including up to 20,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs, while also stimulating innovation. The project should increase GDP per capita by 1.5% and raise the country’s GDP from $472.62 billion to about $502 billion within four years.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum