Professor Ademola Unveils “Leading the Digital Future” at Maiden PAOEF Summit, Calls for Future-Ready Nigeria

First African Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Technology Management, Global Education Advocate, Chartered Manager, UK Digital Journalist, Strategic Advisor & Prophetic Mobiliser for National Transformation, and General Evangelist of CAC Nigeria and Overseas

Abuja, Nigeria — February 3, 2026
Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola has called on Nigeria to urgently embrace digital transformation, ethical leadership, and innovation-driven governance as pathways to national competitiveness and sustainable development.

He made this call while delivering the keynote address at the Maiden Annual Summit of the Professor Ademola Ojo Emmanuel Foundation (PAOEF) and the public presentation of his new book, Leading the Digital Future, held in Abuja.
Addressing government officials, industry leaders, academics, innovators, and development partners, Professor Ademola described digital transformation as the new engine of national growth. He emphasized that “digital policy is national policy,” adding that data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and innovation capacity are now critical components of modern statehood.

He warned that nations that fail to prepare for the digital economy risk falling behind, stressing that Nigeria must transition from being a consumer of technology to becoming a producer, innovator, and global competitor.

Highlighting the vision of PAOEF, Professor Ademola described the foundation as a movement focused on leadership development, digital innovation, public-sector modernization, youth empowerment, and faith-anchored ethics. According to him, sustainable national transformation depends on value-driven leadership supported by strong institutions.

One of the major announcements at the summit was the ongoing development of the University of Professional Studies, Igbajo-Ijesha, located in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. The institution, promoted by PAOEF, is designed as a digital-first university focused on professional studies, applied research, and workforce development.

It will offer future-critical programmes including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, digital governance, public leadership, law, and management. Professor Ademola called on development partners, private sector stakeholders, and philanthropists to support the completion of the project.

Speaking on his newly launched book, Leading the Digital Future, Professor Ademola described it as a strategic roadmap for national digital transformation, cybersecurity leadership, ethical technology adoption, AI integration in governance, and future-of-work readiness.

He also proposed the “Abuja Compact for a Future-Ready Nigeria,” a seven-pillar action agenda covering trusted digital identity, nationwide broadband access, AI-enabled public services, cybersecurity as national defense, innovation ecosystem development, human capital investment, and the promotion of ethics and public trust.

In his closing remarks, Professor Ademola charged leaders to be ethically grounded, future-focused, evidence-driven, collaborative, and technologically competent. He stressed that Nigeria must take deliberate steps to position itself at the centre of global digital progress.

“The future is not something we wait for; it is something we design,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to building a digitally empowered, innovative, and globally competitive Nigeria.