DIGITAL REVOLUTION: Nigeria’s Technological Frontier Unveiled

By Oluwatobi Adeleke David

At the 3rd Triangle Magazine International’s prestigious Africa’s Best and Brightest event, Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola delivered a compelling keynote address urging Nigerian policymakers and tech leaders to reevaluate the nation’s technological landscape. He emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to transition from being a technology consumer to becoming a creator and exporter of digital solutions.

In his speech, Professor Ademola highlighted Nigeria’s technological vulnerabilities and stressed the importance of developing a robust digital infrastructure. He pointed out that the country can no longer rely on foreign technology and must take proactive steps to shape its digital future. Among the key challenges he identified were the lack of a national coding village to nurture tech talent, a widening digital skills gap that threatens economic competitiveness, and significant cybersecurity concerns.

Professor Ademola emphasised that digital transformation could be a powerful tool in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. He argued that implementing the right technological systems would promote transparency, enhance governmental accountability, reduce fraud, and improve efficiency.

He also discussed the significant economic opportunities that could emerge from Nigeria’s digital expansion. These include the potential to create 20,000 technology jobs each year for every state government, democratise access to digital skills, and significantly reduce systemic corruption through new digital governance frameworks.

The address called for the Nigerian government to invest significantly in technological education—especially in coding and digital literacy—to enhance cybersecurity measures and establish strategic global technology partnerships to position Nigeria competitively on the global stage.

The event concluded with Professor Ademola receiving a lifetime achievement award for his unwavering commitment to advancing technology in Nigeria and his significant impact on Africa’s digital future. The award was presented by the mother of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior. The ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the importance of visionary leadership as Nigeria navigates the complexities of the digital age.