The Federal Government has unveiled a $2 billion digital economy research clusters initiative aimed at strengthening innovation and research capacity in Nigeria’s academic institutions.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the initiative during the launch of the Digital Economy Research Clusters in Abuja, describing it as a flagship programme under Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth).
Project BRIDGE, which is financed by the World Bank, will support university-led research consortia to produce high-quality and policy-relevant research across six thematic areas.
Tijani said the initiative reflects the government’s determination to build a knowledge-driven digital economy rooted in local realities rather than relying solely on foreign ideas.
“The digital economy is a knowledge-driven sector. We cannot rely only on ideas developed elsewhere. We must generate our own insights rooted in our realities,” he said.
He added that the programme is designed not only to produce research outputs but also to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem and contribute to global knowledge development.
According to the minister, the research clusters will bring together universities, researchers, and global partners to focus on key areas of the digital economy.
The thematic areas include connectivity and meaningful access, digital public infrastructure and government services, skills and human capital development, jobs in the digital economy, trust and consumer protection, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
“These research clusters are practical and impactful. They will deepen Nigeria’s ability to adopt, shape and deploy technology effectively,” Tijani said.
“Our ambition is clear: we want Nigeria to contribute to shaping the global digital economy, and this requires new thinking, evidence and talent. This initiative places our universities and researchers at the centre of that ambition.”
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said Nigerian universities must move beyond their traditional roles as centres for theoretical learning to institutions that nurture innovators, entrepreneurs, and solution providers capable of competing globally.
He noted that the initiative would help build a new generation of innovators whose ideas and solutions could address local challenges and contribute to global technological advancement.
“These clusters will help us build innovators and develop solutions that can transform lives in Nigeria and globally,” Alausa said.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, who spoke on behalf of vice-chancellors present at the launch, emphasised the need for increased awareness about the initiative.
Agboola said greater publicity would encourage more young people and researchers to participate and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the programme.
The government believes the initiative will help strengthen Nigeria’s digital research ecosystem while positioning the country to play a more significant role in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.