• Nigeria plans to invest 12 billion naira ($8.6 million) in a national digital economy research program.
• The initiative forms part of the BRIDGE project, which includes deploying 90,000 km of fiber optics.
• Authorities expect ICT to contribute 22% of GDP by 2027, supported by research-driven policymaking.

Nigeria faces significant gaps in digital economy research, which limit local knowledge production and weaken the effectiveness of public policy in the sector.

Authorities plan to allocate 12 billion naira ($8.6 million) to a national research program focused on the digital economy. The program aims to strengthen institutions and ensure that digital transformation benefits the entire population by relying on scientific evidence rather than short-term decision-making.

The program, named the National Digital Economy Research Clusters (NDERC), forms part of the broader BRIDGE project. This national initiative plans to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure across the country to improve connectivity and support the development of a modern digital economy.

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced a call for expressions of interest on Sunday, March 29.

Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters— a ₦12 billion research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

This… pic.twitter.com/UfDrbPVHUX

— Dr. 'Bosun Tijani (@bosuntijani) March 28, 2026

“As we expand our digital infrastructure, we must adopt data-driven and evidence-based approaches so that everyone can fully benefit from this major investment. Too often, digital policies follow market dynamics and political cycles rather than research and long-term vision,” the minister said in a statement published on his social media accounts.

The NDERC program plans to establish six research clusters covering strategic areas: connectivity, digital public infrastructure, digital skills and education, digital economy and employment, security and consumer protection, and artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The program will mobilize 36 professors from 36 Nigerian universities in collaboration with international academic partners. It will also engage more than 200 researchers to produce rigorous scientific work that policymakers can directly use.

Authorities have aligned the program with Nigeria’s broader ambition to leverage digital technologies for socio-economic development. The government expects information and communication technologies (ICT) to contribute 22% of GDP by 2027.

Moreover, officials expect the BRIDGE project to create up to 20,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs while stimulating innovation. They also project a 1.5% increase in GDP per capita, which would raise Nigeria’s GDP from $472.62 billion to about $502 billion within four years.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum