The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commenced the validation of a national framework aimed at systematically measuring the impact of digital technologies on Nigeria’s economy, in a move designed to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and accelerate the country’s digital transformation.
The initiative was unveiled during the Stakeholder Engagement and Validation Workshop on the Indicators and Measurement Framework for the National Research Study on the Impact of Digital Technologies on Nigeria’s Economy: Key Growth Indicators, Gaps and Future Outlook, held at the e-Government Training Centre of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) in Abuja.
The workshop brought together representatives from government institutions, regulatory agencies, academia, the private sector, development partners and the research community to validate the framework that will guide a nationwide assessment of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the Director of the Special Duties Unit, Mr. Olawumi Oladejo, said sustainable digital transformation requires more than technology deployment.
“Building a globally competitive digital economy requires more than deploying technology. It demands reliable evidence, trusted data and strong institutional collaboration to guide policy and investment,” he said.
Inuwa noted that Nigeria has made significant progress in digital payments, broadband expansion, digital public services, innovation ecosystems and digital entrepreneurship. However, he observed that the absence of a harmonised national measurement system has made it difficult to accurately evaluate the impact of these investments or identify areas requiring further intervention.
“Without a harmonised national measurement framework, we cannot accurately determine what is working, where the gaps exist and where future investments should be directed,” he added.
He explained that the National Research Study is designed to establish a credible evidence base for assessing how digital technologies contribute to economic growth, employment, innovation, financial inclusion, improved public service delivery and national competitiveness.
According to him, the initiative aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly its objective of strengthening Nigeria’s technology research ecosystem through data-driven policymaking. He urged stakeholders to contribute their expertise to ensure the framework reflects global best practices while remaining practical for Nigeria’s unique digital landscape.
Chairman of the Technical Steering Committee and Director of Research and Development at NITDA, Dr. Saidu Mohammed Kumo, said the country’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, but the ability to systematically measure its contribution to productivity and social inclusion has not kept pace.
“Nigeria’s digital economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, but our ability to measure its real impact has lagged behind. This framework is designed to bridge that gap with credible, statistically sound evidence,” Kumo said.
He disclosed that researchers drawn from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones worked alongside the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to develop the framework, which evaluates three core dimensions: digital infrastructure and access, digital capabilities and skills, and digital adoption alongside the enabling environment.
The framework will assess these indicators across five strategic sectors—financial services, government services, e-commerce and digital trade, telecommunications, and e-health.
Kumo revealed that the committee has proposed 81 core indicators to measure how digital technologies are transforming businesses, governance and society, adding that the workshop provided stakeholders with the opportunity to review the metrics, identify data gaps and strengthen the framework before nationwide data collection begins.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Statistician General of the Federation, Mrs. Saadatu Hayatuddeen Auwal of the National Bureau of Statistics described digital technology as a key driver of economic growth.
“Digital technology is the engine of today’s economy, but its contribution can only be fully understood through accurate measurement supported by reliable and timely statistics,” she said.
She reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to providing technical support and producing high-quality statistics that will strengthen policy formulation.
Also speaking, Mrs. Ezedozie Adaora Ifeyinwa, representing the Federal Ministry of Health, commended NITDA for including healthcare among the five pilot sectors.
She noted that digital innovations such as electronic health records, telemedicine and data-driven disease surveillance are reshaping healthcare delivery, while stressing the importance of measuring their impact on health outcomes and economic development.
Ifeyinwa also highlighted challenges including fragmented health data, varying levels of digital maturity across healthcare institutions and data sensitivity, pledging the ministry’s continued collaboration to strengthen data sharing and build an integrated digital health ecosystem.
The workshop featured technical presentations on the draft Indicators and Measurement Framework covering e-health, financial services, e-commerce and digital trade, telecommunications and government services. Participants reviewed the proposed indicators, assessed sector-specific methodologies and made recommendations to refine the framework ahead of the nationwide data collection exercise.
At the close of the workshop, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the development of an institutionalised national digital economy measurement system capable of providing credible evidence for policymaking, improving strategic planning, attracting investment and positioning Nigeria as a globally competitive digital economy.
