By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030 will depend largely on its ability to translate digital innovation into increased productivity, industrial growth, investment and job creation, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Olusola Obadimu, has said.
Obadimu stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026, held at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
He challenged stakeholders to move beyond discussions about technological advancement and focus on converting innovation into measurable economic outcomes, stressing that digital technology must be deliberately linked to productivity, industrialisation, export growth and national development.
“We are no longer debating whether digital technology will transform our economy. It already is. The question is whether Nigeria will merely consume that transformation or deliberately connect it to productivity, industrialisation, jobs, exports and national growth,” he said.
The NACCIMA Director-General noted that achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s $1 trillion economic vision would require stronger collaboration between technology, enterprise and investment, adding that sustainable economic growth must be driven by productive businesses across agriculture, manufacturing, mining, trade and services.
According to him, the country’s economic transformation cannot be achieved through government interventions alone but through businesses that create value, expand production and generate employment.
“The road to a one-trillion-dollar economy runs through productivity. That economy will not be built in government offices. It will be built on farms, in factories, in laboratories and through businesses that create value every day,” he added.
Obadimu identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as critical to achieving the country’s economic ambitions, arguing that digital policies would have limited impact unless they directly improve the productivity and competitiveness of small businesses.
He also highlighted the growing partnership between NACCIMA and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), describing it as a strategic effort to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, academia, development partners and innovators to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a thriving digital economy.
Onumo described the digital economy as a strategic driver of national development, innovation and competitiveness, noting that emerging technologies were rapidly reshaping businesses, industries and societies globally.
“We are not here merely to discuss the future; we are here to build it. Digital Nigeria is designed to move beyond conversations to implementation, collaboration and measurable impact,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria possessed the talent, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative capacity required to become a leading digital economy but stressed that achieving this would depend on deliberate investments in skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
He explained that the 2026 conference was structured around four strategic pillars, focusing on identifying the people who would build Nigeria’s digital future, determining how to achieve that vision, equipping citizens with relevant skills and recognising individuals and organisations driving excellence across the digital ecosystem.
Onumo further emphasised that no single institution could build the country’s digital future independently, urging stakeholders to embrace partnerships that would unlock the full potential of the digital economy.
One of the major highlights of the conference was the Builders Festival, an initiative designed to move Nigeria’s technology ecosystem from generating ideas to developing practical solutions to economic and societal challenges.
Insights shared by Glory Olamigoke and David Ogobe showed how the initiative was connecting innovators with real industry problems, funding opportunities, mentorship and business networks.
They noted that although Nigeria’s technology ecosystem had recorded significant growth over the past decade, particularly in fintech, digital payments, mobility and digital commerce, the next phase required a new generation of innovators capable of developing products and businesses that address real-world challenges.
According to them, the Builders Festival adopted a problem-driven approach, inviting companies and institutions to submit operational and industry-specific challenges requiring innovative solutions.
Following a review process, 21 priority challenges were identified and presented to startups, developers, founders and innovators across the country.
More than 1,500 innovators submitted applications, from which 30 finalists emerged to develop prototypes for presentation to investors, industry leaders and judges.
The eventual winner received a $50,000 equity-free grant, alongside mentorship and institutional support, while other outstanding innovators secured grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000.
Beyond financial support, the initiative provided participants with access to investors, regulators, industry experts, business development networks and strategic partnerships to help transform their innovations into commercially viable enterprises.
Olamigoke and Ogobe observed that the initiative addressed a major challenge confronting African innovation: the disconnect between available talent and access to funding, mentorship, infrastructure and market opportunities.
On security, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General E. S. Mustapha, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, warned that the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies had heightened cybersecurity risks and created new national security challenges.
He described cybersecurity and digital resilience as strategic national priorities, calling for stronger collaboration, capacity building and investment in digital skills to safeguard the country’s digital infrastructure.
Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, represented by Commissioner of Police Ayodele Oluyemi, highlighted the growing importance of technology in intelligence-led and citizen-focused policing.
He noted that artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital forensics and secure communication systems were increasingly shaping modern policing, stressing the need for stronger partnerships to address emerging security threats.
The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, represented by the Head of Innovation Department, Ms Adaobi Nwankwo, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to data privacy, responsible data governance and digital trust.
He stressed that public confidence was fundamental to successful digital transformation, particularly as governments, businesses and citizens increasingly relied on digital platforms and services.
He called for stronger collaboration to ensure that technological innovation developed within a secure environment that protected citizens’ rights and personal information.
Also speaking, Mr Paul Apiade, who represented the Federal Character Commission (FCC), said digital transformation must expand opportunities rather than create new forms of exclusion.
He noted that technology had become indispensable to improving governance, transparency and public service delivery, urging stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical location, gender, social status or background, benefited from the opportunities offered by the digital economy.
Apiade also acknowledged NITDA’s support in strengthening digital capacity across government institutions, identifying cybersecurity, data protection and digital trust as essential pillars of an inclusive digital future.
The conference featured discussions, exhibitions, masterclasses and innovation showcases, with stakeholders agreeing that Nigeria had the market, talent, entrepreneurial energy and innovation ecosystem required to become one of Africa’s leading digital economies.
They, however, stressed the need to connect innovation with industry, startups with customers, skills with employment, ideas with investment and policies with practical implementation.
Participants maintained that the ultimate measure of Digital Nigeria 2026 would not be the discussions and speeches delivered at the event but the businesses created, technologies commercialised, investments attracted, jobs generated and lives transformed through the country’s digital economy.
