Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani speaking at the Nordic-Nigeria Connect event themed 'Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact', which took place at the Continental Hotel in Lagos, affirms that Nigeria's era of innovation must prioritise real human connection, digital public infrastructure, and purposeful partnerships. not novelty for its own sake.
His message urges a shift from startup hype to sustainable solution-building for Africa's future.
Beyond Rhetoric – Reimagining Nigeria's Innovation For Real Impact
At the "Nordic-Nigeria Connect event themed 'Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact', which took place at the Continental Hotel in Lagos, Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, called for "empathy, trust, and relationships" to become drivers of Nigerian tech and startup development.
"You can't really innovate to solve people's problems if you don't have empathy and the people cannot trust you," Tijani emphasised, urging leaders to rethink what constitutes meaningful innovation in policy and startups.
Building Purposeful Infrastructure And Future-Proofing Youth Capacity
Nigeria's new agenda shuns vanity projects in favour of concrete, inclusive platforms:
- 90,000 km of national fibre connecting remote communities
- 70,000 telecom towers to link 20 million unconnected Nigerians
- Digital public infrastructure standards for transparent service delivery
Tijani's plan finds alignment with startup sustainability thought, which goes beyond founding for hype, pursues investments in digital inclusion, youth training, and global engagement.
| National Priority | Key Initiative | Solution-Focused Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Universal Connectivity | Fibre, towers, satellite management | Digital inclusion everywhere |
| Youth Empowerment | 3 Million Technical Talent program | Largest talent accelerator |
| Public Digital Infra | Open standards, cross-national MOU | Transparent service delivery |
International Partnerships For Shared Prosperity And Real Reforms
Tijani frames Nigeria's market as a "significant source of welfare," ready to move from intention to delivery with trusted allies from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Real partnerships mean:
- MoUs for AI collaboration and digital skill building
- Data infrastructure projects with FinFund and the European Union
- Cross-national research in AI and broadband expansion
| Partnership Model | Stakeholders | Systemic, Measurable Value |
|---|---|---|
| Education & AI R&D | University of Oslo, NCC/Ericsson | Research into commercial skills |
| Digital Finance Infra | EU, FinFund, Danish Gov't | Open, scalable data service |
| Broadband Policies | Satellite community leaders | Rural, urban economic value |
Shifting Startup Culture – Sustainability, Metrics, and Real Delivery
Echoing lessons from successful global innovators and sustainability thinkers, the minister urges the startup community:
- Build on empathy and institutional trust
- Move from conference intention to partnership execution
- Ground innovation in measurable, delivery-based public benefit
Nigeria's digital future must invest in scalable platforms, open standards, and evidence-backed tech reforms, not just the excitement of new ventures.
Infographic: Nigeria's Human-Centred Digital Reform Roadmap
| Reform Area | Policy Lever | Expected Sustainable Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Fibre & tower expansion | Reduced inequality, digital jobs |
| Youth Tech Talent | Largest accelerator program | Global competitiveness, inclusion |
| Partnerships | MoUs, cross-national support | Research capacity, new markets |
| Digital Public Infra | Open, scalable infrastructure | Transparent governance, trust |
Path Forward: Championing Inclusive Innovation and Measurable Reform for Africa's Digital Future
Dr. Bosun Tijani's leadership marks a shift toward measurable impact and shared progress. His drive for responsible policy, strategic partnerships, and evidence-based innovation reflects a new era of governance that prioritises results over rhetoric.
As startups collaborate with government, co-creating trust and digital equity, Africa's innovation ecosystem grows more inclusive, anchored in resilience, creativity, and purpose.
