The Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s quickest path to catching up with developed economies lies in digital innovation and the creation of a vibrant national tech ecosystem.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ forum on technology and innovation on Tuesday, Shettima said Nigeria is “endowed with one of the world’s most vibrant pools of talent,” stressing that the success of the nation, and indeed the continent depends on how effectively it harnesses this human capital for innovation-driven growth.
“If there is any standout route through which we can catch up with developed economies, it lies in digital innovation,” he said. “We are endowed with vibrant minds, and our success as a people can only be guaranteed by us.”
The Vice President urged a shift from surface-level digital adoption to deep-tech innovation capable of addressing national challenges in sectors such as agriculture, health, logistics, and governance.
He said Nigeria must focus on developing a digital ecosystem that functions seamlessly across the country — from Lagos and Abuja to Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Bauchi.
“We must move beyond mere applications to building foundational, deep-tech solutions that respond to the real needs of our people,” he added.
Outlining the nation’s long-term strategy, the VP said the government’s digital transformation agenda rests on three core pillars: People, Infrastructure, and Policy.
He explained that the People pillar focuses on building a “holistic pipeline of digital talent” through digital literacy integration in schools and national inclusion programs, while the Infrastructure pillar emphasizes broadband connectivity to power a truly digital economy.
