Nigeria sets up national digital research clusters with N12bn backing

Nigeria’s federal government has unveiled a N12 billion Digital Economy Research Fund aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and supporting the country’s long-term digital transformation, Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said on Saturday.

The minister announced the launch of an Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a programme designed to place research and data at the centre of Nigeria’s digital policy decisions.

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“Today my heart is filled with deep joy as we announce the Expression of Interest for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a N12bn research funding scheme designed to place ideas, evidence, and research at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation,” Tijani said in a statement.

The initiative is being funded under Project BRIDGE, a federal government programme that plans to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across the country to expand connectivity and support a modern digital economy.

According to the minister, as the government increases digital infrastructure investments nationwide, research-backed strategies will be necessary to ensure the benefits are widely shared across society.

“As we deepen our digital infrastructure coverage, thoughtful, evidence-based approaches are required to be deployed in society to ensure everyone benefits from this significant investment,” he said.

Nigeria has been pushing to expand broadband access and digital services as part of efforts to diversify the economy away from oil and create more technology-driven jobs. However, policymakers have often relied more on market trends and political cycles rather than long-term academic research when shaping digital policies, the minister noted.

“Too often, the ideas shaping digital policy come predominantly from markets and political cycles rather than from research, evidence, and long-term thinking,” the statement said.

Under the new programme, six national research clusters will be created to focus on major areas of the digital economy. These include connectivity and meaningful use, digital public infrastructure and government services, digital skills and human capital development, digital economy and jobs, online trust and consumer protection, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The clusters are expected to be led by up to 36 professors drawn from Nigerian universities, working together with international academic partners. More than 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, are expected to participate and generate policy-focused research that could guide government decisions.

Tijani said the objective of the programme goes beyond academic output, adding that the government hopes the research will lead to stronger institutions and better public policy outcomes.

“For me, the goal goes beyond research output. We are looking for better policies that lead to stronger institutions and a more prosperous society,” he said.

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He described the initiative as one of the ministry’s most significant programmes so far, noting that it is designed to produce ideas that can shape Nigeria’s digital future beyond the tenure of any single administration.

“Because nations that lead the future are not simply those that deploy infrastructure; they are the ones that cultivate ideas,” he added.

The ministry has invited universities and research institutions interested in participating to review the terms of reference released alongside the Expression of Interest and submit proposals to either lead or collaborate within the national research clusters.