Reported by: Agande Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
At this year’s Digital Nigeria Conference, Vice-President Kashim Shettima took a proactive role, emphasizing that digital progress in Nigeria must be treated as a national imperative, not merely a sectoral aspiration. His remarks went beyond ceremonial duties, signaling a renewed focus on tangible solutions for the country’s digital challenges.
Shettima grounded his message around a triad of People, Infrastructure, and Policy, stressing that these pillars are critical to building a resilient digital economy. He highlighted the real-life consequences of digital exclusion, noting that many Nigerians — from traders unable to accept digital payments due to poor broadband, to farmers who cannot access market prices, and children whose first exposure to technology comes late — continue to be left behind.
The Vice-President provided practical examples of inclusion, citing rural women working remotely and smallholder farmers accessing real-time agricultural data. These illustrations reflected the lived experiences of Nigerians across the country.
Shettima also acknowledged the role of ordinary Nigerians in driving the digital economy, including young content creators and TikTok innovators who, despite limited formal education, are building micro-industries through creativity and consistency. Similarly, GSM market technicians who can dismantle and reassemble devices with impressive skill were highlighted as unsung contributors to technological progress.
In response to these realities, the Vice-President called for foundational digital reforms, urging the introduction of a comprehensive e-governance and digital economy law to provide the structural backbone necessary for sustained growth.
However, challenges remain. Broadband coverage is uneven, power supply limitations hinder digital communities, outdated right-of-way regimes slow fibre deployment, and data affordability remains a barrier. Shettima stressed that addressing these issues is essential for ensuring meaningful digital inclusion across the country.
For the first time in years, many attendees noted a sense of alignment between political authority, policy direction, and grassroots realities, suggesting a more unified approach to tackling Nigeria’s digital divide.
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