- Nigeria’s ICT sector is projected to contribute 21% to the GDP within two years, driven by strategic government investments and initiatives
- Dr. Bosun Tijani emphasized the importance of ICT in transforming Nigeria’s economy into a trillion-dollar landscape, focusing on youth empowerment
Nigeria’s economy is poised for significant growth as the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is projected to contribute 21% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within two years, according to Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy.
Speaking at the launch of training programs for 500 Data Protection Officers (DPOs) under the National Certification for Data Protection in Nigeria and West Africa, Dr. Tijani emphasized that the current administration’s strategic investments in ICT would elevate Nigeria to a trillion-dollar economy.
The event, organized by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), was held simultaneously in Abuja and Lagos.
Tijani highlighted the government’s focus on leveraging ICT to transform the economy, emphasizing areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation of government services, digital healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
He urged the training participants to maximize the opportunity, describing it as a government initiative built on trust and designed to empower the pioneer beneficiaries.
“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria’s economy will transition to a trillion-dollar economy, driven by its youthful population and strategic ICT policies,” Tijani stated.
Engr. Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, noted that the government fosters partnerships across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to promote inclusivity and create opportunities for Nigerian youths in various fields.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and CEO of NDPC, revealed that while 3,000 DPOs were initially planned for training, budget constraints limited the program to 500 participants. He added that each certification costs $2,000 but opens global opportunities for professionals in the data protection field.
“Globally, 94% of companies in Europe lack skilled professionals, while in Nigeria, the figure is 99%. Human capital development is crucial, and it is estimated that 170 million jobs requiring specialized skills will be available globally in the next two years,” Olatunji said.
The NDPC has already trained 55,000 Nigerians in data protection over the past two years, but the demand for certified professionals remains high, with over 500,000 registered data controllers needing qualified officers.
Speakers at the event included Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Mrs. Jane Egerton-Idehen, Managing Director of NigComSat; and CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, representing the Inspector General of Police. They emphasized the program’s importance for national development, youth empowerment, and data security.
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