ICEGOV 2025: Nigeria hosts global stakeholders, restates commitment to digital transformation, good governance + Photos

*Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, lead other top government officials to 18th Edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025), in Abuja, declaring Nigeria’s readiness to lead in shaping the future of electronic governance across the African continent

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation through research, innovation, and collaborative governance for the development of the continent.

ConsumerConnect reports the government said its reaffirmation of this commitment conforms to the outlined presidential priority areas.

Dr. Tijani at the event  in Abuja

Such priority areas include Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth; Enhancing Infrastructure as an Enabler of Growth; Improving Governance for Effective Service Delivery; and Accelerating Economic Diversification through Digitalisation, Industrialisation, Creative Arts, Manufacturing and Innovation in Nigeria.

Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) and Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who both led top government officials, echoed this sentiment at the 18th Edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

Cross-sections of notable dignitaries and distinguished personalities at the event 

The theme of the 18th Edition of this year’s ICEGOV is: “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”.

Tijani and Inuwa declared the West African country’s readiness to lead in shaping the future of electronic governance.

Core objectives of ICEGOV 2025

It is noted at ICEGOV 2025 that the initiative was conceived 2007 as an annual gathering to bring together academia, governments, international organisations, civil society, and industry to share the latest insights and experiences in the theory and practice of Electronic Governance.

NITDA explained ICEGOV also brings together diverse teams from multiple disciplines and cultures to tackle complex issues and emerging global challenges, with a focus on sustainable development, social inclusion, and active citizenship.

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Both Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Prof. Tschilidzi Marwala and Dr. Tijani, Minister for FMCIDE, chaired this year’s event.

Prof. Marwala, in his presentation at the event, urged responsible and inclusive development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy.

AI rapidly transforming aspects of human life, says Marwala

Underscoring the strategic importance of the new technology, the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations also emphasised that technology must work for all people.

Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi delivering his welcome address at ICEGOV 2025

According to him, these include Africans, if it is to achieve its full potential as a tool for global progress.

He further stated that AI is rapidly transforming every aspect of human life but warned that its design and governance must prioritise equality, ethics, and the common good.

Prof. Marwala said: “Artificial Intelligence is shaping many areas of our lives, but it must be designed so that it does not leave anyone behind.

“AI will remain suboptimal until it works equally for all people, including the people of Nigeria and, by extension, the African continent.”

The expert further underscored the “balancing act” required in managing AI, describing this as that between transparency and security, opportunity and risk, innovation and accountability.

While transparency is critical to ensuring fairness, excessive openness can compromise data security, creating new vulnerabilities, he opined.

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Marwala as well stressed the need to democratise AI by giving people not only access to the technology but also collective power in deciding how it should be used.

He explained: “Democratisation of AI means not only that people can freely use AI but also that they can collectively decide how it is to be used.

“Collective decision-making is necessary to address the negative externalities of AI, from job losses to the degradation of our digital commons.”

Marwala, therefore, urged policymakers, researchers, and technologists to view AI not merely as a tool of progress but as a moral responsibility

That is, a responsibility that demands cooperation across countries and sectors to ensure that technological advancement strengthens humanity rather than divides it.

‘Source Balance Ratio’ model, innovation and digital transformation

In his keynote address at ICEGOV 2025, Dr. Tijani stressed the need for balance between innovation, research, and regulation.

The Minister asserted that digital technologies must serve the public good and strengthen social inclusion in the ecosystem.

He stated: “Nigeria stands at the intersection of innovation, youth, and digital transformation.

“The state of a society reflects the ideas that dominate it.

“When good ideas strike, nations prosper; when bad ideas prevail, nations decay.”

Tijani, on the occasion, also unveiled the “Source Balance Ratio”, a conceptual model explaining how ideas from various stakeholders, government, civil society, academia, private sector, and development partners shape public policy.

The Minister for FMCIDE further averred that economies must ensure that policymaking is guided by research and ethics, not short-term politics or commercial interests.

On ethical digital governance and consumers’ interest

Tijani equally observed that platforms like the ICEGOV should help to strike a balance to ensure innovation serves humanity as a whole.

Tijani cautioned stakeholders: “If our ideas are driven solely by profit or short-term politics, we end up with regulations that react to innovation rather than guide it.”

He as well highlighted the link between research and economic growth.

The Minister urged especially developing countries to strengthen ties between the academia and government for evidence-based policymaking.

Tijani lauded ICEGOV as a global platform that supports collaboration, knowledge exchange, and ethical digital governance.

According to him, these principles align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He declared: “Digital technologies are no longer just economic tools; they reshape our societies and our citizenship.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that innovation is guided by ethics, inclusivity, and the public interest.”

Inuwa: Nigeria fast becoming a digital governance powerhouse

Echoing Minister Tijani’s vision on innovation and digital governance, Inuwa CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, described ICEGOV 2025 as a remarkable milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards becoming a digital governance powerhouse.

The Chief of the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency in Nigeria disclosed the decision to host the conference was inspired by Dr. Tijani’s directive, following the country’s successful participation in ICEGOV 2024, in South Africa.

He noted: “Honourable Minister said he wanted us to host workshops at the ICEGOV 2024 because he believes in research,l.

“And that if we really want to build a robust and sustainable economy, especially in the digital era, we need to invest heavily in deep research, especially in deep tech.”

Inuwa also explained that the conference theme aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan of “Accelerating the Nation’s Collective Prosperity” through Technical Efficiency, which is anchored on five pillars.

He enumerated the pillars as Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital’.

Inuwa outlined Nigeria’s progress under these pillars, including: the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), aimed at ensuring every Nigerian acquires digital skills from early education to adulthood, a collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into school curricula by 2026, and a partnership with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to train all public servants, with over 24,000 already enrolled.

Besides, the Director-General of NITDA mentioned the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative to equip Nigerians with high-demand digital skills and nationwide campaigns to extend digital skills training to market traders, transport workers, senior citizens, and faith-based groups.

Dimensions of digital transformation, by Inuwa

Expatiating more on essence of the concept, Inuwa averred: “Digital transformation is not just about technology.

“It’s about improving how we serve our citizens, and governance must meet citizens where they are, which is online.

“Our goal is to build trust, efficiency, and better service experiences.”

He also gave insight into the ongoing work on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), in Nigeria, including a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI, both designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance architecture.

Inuwa said: “Our goal is to build the capacity, infrastructure, and right policies for Africa’s digital self-determination. “ICEGOV gives us the platform to learn, share, and shape that future together.”

Among several other notable dignitaries and distinguished guests, who delivered goodwill messages at ICEGOV 2025 include the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack, represented by the PS Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima S.T. Mahmood; Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu, and the Chairman, House Committee On ICT, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, among others.

NITDA stated that these important dignitaries all expressed their strong support for ICEGOV 2025.

They equally commended Nigeria’s visionary leadership in advancing digital governance and socio-technical innovation across the African continent.

According to NITDA, their remarks at the event underscored the strategic significance of the conference as a catalyst for deepening global dialogue on digital policy, ethical technology deployment, and data-driven governance in the ecosystem.

They emphasised that the sustained success of Nigeria’s digital economic transformation depends on continued multilateral collaboration, institutional capacity-building, and the establishment of resilient digital public infrastructure that foster interoperability, transparency, and trust.

The agency further noted that the speakers highlighted the importance of aligning national digital strategies with global best practices in Artificial Intelligence governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technology regulation, as key enablers of sustainable digital development.

NITDA submitted that in their collective view, ICEGOV 2025 represents not only a milestone in Nigeria’s digital trajectory but also a pivotal platform for “shaping evidence-based policies, nurturing innovation ecosystems, and ensuring that digital transformation remains inclusive, secure, and future-ready.”

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