Two years ago, I was humbled to be sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) as your Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Out of over 230 million citizens, I was chosen to serve — a duty that remains the highest honour of my life. For this, I am deeply grateful to Mr. President, and to you, the people of Nigeria.
From the very beginning, I knew this responsibility demanded clarity, and so we set out a blueprint — a social contract with you — on how we would build a digital economy that creates prosperity and opportunity for all.
In two years, we have trained 125,000 young Nigerians in the 3MTT Programme, building our tech talent pipeline, while 225,000 others gained digital literacy skills to thrive in today’s world. Thousands of secondary school students have joined our “Builda-thon” programme, and through Girls in ICT, I have seen firsthand the brilliance of our young women shaping the future.
We placed our telecoms sector on a sustainable path, because connectivity is more than infrastructure — it is the lifeline of a modern society.
With Project BRIDGE, we are deploying 90,000km of fibre optic cable to bring connectivity within reach of every state, every local government, and every ward in Nigeria.
Through Project 774, we are using NigComSat satellites to connect local government secretariats nationwide.
And with the Fibre to Hostels Initiative, we are ensuring students across the country can access high-speed internet directly in their hostels.
We also piloted rural connectivity in Kura community, Abuja — the first step toward deploying 7,000 new telecom towers that will connect 20 million Nigerians in unserved and underserved communities.
At the same time, we are investing in digital innovation spaces — from the Digital Innovation Park in Kano to over a hundred computer facilities nationwide — ensuring that our young people have the tools, platforms, and communities to innovate.
We have also begun to position Nigeria at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence. With the co-creation of our National AI Strategy, we have funded 45 Nigerian AI startups and supported 10 AI demonstration projects that show how AI can solve real-world challenges in agriculture, healthcare, security, and education.
Our work also retools government itself. Through DevsInGovernment, civil servants are learning digital skills to serve you better. With Digital Public Infrastructure, government services will soon meet you at life’s most important moments — passports, licenses, business registrations — all made seamless and transparent.
And beyond the digital, we are modernizing NIPOST into a platform for e-commerce, agro-logistics, digital banking, and national delivery. Every Nigerian, whether in a city or a hamlet, deserves to feel connected.
This work is not mine alone. It is strengthened by partners in the private sector, the National Assembly, and most of all — by you, whose energy and faith inspire us daily.
As we look forward, our focus remains on protecting your data, building Nigeria’s leadership in AI, opening global markets to our startups, and ensuring that Nigeria has a strong voice in shaping the future of the digital economy.
My fellow Nigerians, serving you has been the greatest privilege of my life. The work is far from done, but every day convinces me more that our best days are ahead — together.
I must especially thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for his support, vision, and rare leadership that has enabled us to lay this foundation for a digital Nigeria.
With gratitude and hope,
Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani
Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy
The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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