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The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digital transformation and good governance in Africa at the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025.
The conference brought together top government officials, academia, and industry experts to discuss the latest trends and challenges in digital governance.
The 18th edition, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”, was chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof Tschilidzi Marwala and Dr Bosun Tijani.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, re-emphazing the country’s advancement in digital transformation, in his keynote address reiterated the need for balance between innovation, research, and regulation to ensure digital technologies serve the public good.
He noted that nations must ensure that policymaking is guided by research and ethics, not short-term politics or commercial interests.
The Minister warned that, “If our ideas are driven solely by profit or short-term politics, we end up with regulations that react to innovation rather than guide it.”
Dr Tijani also highlighted the correlation between research and economic growth, urging developing countries to strengthen ties between academia and government for evidence-based policymaking.
He commended ICEGOV as a global platform that supports collaboration, knowledge exchange, and ethical digital governance, noting that these principles align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Prof. Tschilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University, in his presentation called for responsible and inclusive development of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must work for all people, including Africans.
He emphasized the need to democratize AI by giving people not only access to the technology but also collective power in deciding how it should be used.
“Artificial intelligence is shaping many areas of our lives, but it must be designed so that it does not leave anyone behind. AI will remain suboptimal until it works equally for all people, including the people of Nigeria and, by extension, the African continent,” he said.
Prof. Marwala underscored the “balancing act” required in managing AI, which is between transparency and security, opportunity and risk, innovation and accountability.
He pointed out that while transparency is critical to ensuring fairness, excessive openness can compromise data security, creating new vulnerabilities.He also emphasised the need to democratize AI by giving people not only access to the technology but also collective power in deciding how it should be used.
“Democratisation of AI means not only that people can freely use AI but also that they can collectively decide how it is to be used. Collective decision-making is necessary to address the negative externalities of AI, from job losses to the degradation of our digital commons,” he noted.
He urged policymakers, researchers, and technologists to view AI not merely as a tool of progress but as a moral responsibility, one that demands cooperation across nations and sectors to ensure that technological advancement strengthens humanity rather than divides it.
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, Director General of NITDA, highlighted Nigeria’s progress in digital governance, including the National Digital Literacy Framework and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative.
He noted that digital transformation is not just about technology, but about improving how government serves citizens, and governance must meet citizens where they are, which is online.
Inline with the Minister’s vision, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, described ICEGOV 2025 as a remarkable milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a digital governance powerhouse.
He explained that, the decision to host the conference was inspired by Dr Tijani’s directive following Nigeria’s successful participation in ICEGOV 2024 in South Africa.
“Honourable Minister said he wants us to host workshops at the ICEGOV 2024 because he believes in research, and that if we really want to build a robust and sustainable economy, especially in the digital era, we need to invest heavily in deep research, especially in deep tech,” he stated.
Inuwa explained that the conference theme aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan of Accelerating the Nation’s Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency, which is anchored on five pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital’.
He outlined Nigeria’s progress under these pillars, including: the National Digital Literacy Framework, aimed at ensuring every Nigerian acquires digital skills from early education to adulthood, a collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into school curricula by next year, a partnership with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to train all public servants, with over 24,000 already enrolled, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative to equip Nigerians with high-demand digital skills and nationwide campaigns to extend digital skills training to market traders, transport workers, senior citizens, and faith-based groups.
“Digital transformation is not just about technology. it’s about improving how we serve our citizens, and governance must meet citizens where they are, which is online. Our goal is to build trust, efficiency, and better service experiences,” Inuwa averred.
The DG also highlighted ongoing work on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI, both designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance architecture.“Our goal is to build the capacity, infrastructure, and right policies for Africa’s digital self-determination. ICEGOV gives us the platform to learn, share, and shape that future together,” Inuwa concluded.
The conference showcased Nigeria’s commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation through research, innovation, and collaborative governance. The country’s leadership in hosting ICEGOV 2025 demonstrates its dedication to shaping the future of digital governance and promoting sustainable development in Africa.
Notable dignitaries and distinguished guests expressed their strong support for ICEGOV 2025, commending Nigeria’s visionary leadership in advancing digital governance and socio-technical innovation across the continent. They emphasized that the sustained success of Nigeria’s digital economic transformation depends on continued multilateral collaboration, institutional capacity-building, and the establishment of resilient digital public infrastructures that foster interoperability, transparency, and trust.
