The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has hailed the successful conclusion of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025) as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations, citing its direct contribution to research excellence, global collaboration and the nation’s ongoing digital transformation agenda.

Hosted in Abuja under the patronage of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ICEGOV 2025 convened global experts for four days of rigorous debate, innovative research presentations, and high-impact partnerships, a convergence that NITDA says aligns closely with the President’s redefined priority area of accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation and digitisation.

The conference, a United Nations University (UNU-EGOV) initiative founded in 2007, brought together academia, industry leaders, civil society, development institutions and government actors to shape the future of electronic governance. This year’s edition placed Nigeria at the center of global digital discourse, showcasing the country’s rising intellectual and technological capacity.

A total of 151 scientific papers were submitted by 308 authors from 33 countries, with emerging economies accounting for 68% of participating scholars, a clear sign of the conference’s inclusive reach. Nigeria led global submissions with 102 authors, followed by Brazil, India, Portugal and Greece.

NITDA emphasised that this strong participation reflects the Agency’s decade-long investment in digital talent development, research funding and ecosystem strengthening, which are investments that are already translating into local and international recognition.

The conference also honoured outstanding research through its Best Paper Awards. Notably, Robert Ifeonu of the Central Bank of Nigeria earned the top award in the Research category for his paper “Micro-Transformation Framework for Public Sector Innovation: Catalysing Resilient, Outcome-Driven Digital Governance.” This, NITDA noted, underscores Nigeria’s emerging leadership in developing home-grown digital governance models capable of driving socio-economic impact.

In her closing remarks, Professor Delfina Soares, Director of UNU-EGOV, extended appreciation to NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, for his early endorsement and strategic leadership in bringing ICEGOV to Abuja. She noted that the local partnerships and sponsorships facilitated by NITDA significantly enhanced the conference’s global value and strengthened Africa’s position in digital governance research.

Speaking on the event’s economic and strategic implications, NITDA affirmed that hosting ICEGOV 2025 delivered multiple layers of value, from boosting Nigeria’s reputation as a digital innovation hub to fostering partnerships that will stimulate new investments, research collaborations and capacity-building programmes.

The Agency added that insights and tools shared during the conference will further accelerate the actualisation of its digital transformation agenda, strengthen public sector efficiency and support the Federal Government’s commitment to economic diversification through digitisation and industrialisation. The knowledge exchange from ICEGOV, it said, will catalyse improved service delivery, enhanced regulatory frameworks and the deepening of Nigeria’s knowledge-driven economy.

As delegates departed Abuja carrying new research linkages and strategic commitments, NITDA reaffirmed its readiness to sustain the momentum, ensuring that Nigeria not only participates in global digital governance conversations but also shapes them.

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In line with the presidential priority areas of 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, Nigeria has once again reaffirmed its commitment to driving Africa’s digital transformation through research, innovation, and collaborative governance.

This was made known as top government officials led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani and the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, declared the country’s readiness to lead in shaping the future of electronic governance.

The declaration was made at the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025 held at the Shehu Musa Yara’dua Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.

ICEGOV was conceived in 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.

It 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.

The 18th edition, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”, is chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof Tschilidzi Marwala and Dr Bosun Tijani.

In his presentation, Prof Marwala called for the responsible and inclusive development of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must work for all people, including Africans, if it is to achieve its full potential as a tool for global progress.

He said 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.

“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,” he said.

Prof. Marwala underscored the “balancing act” required in managing AI, which is between transparency and security, opportunity and risk, innovation and accountability. He pointed out that while transparency is critical to ensuring fairness, excessive openness can compromise data security, creating new vulnerabilities.

He also emphasised the need to democratize AI by giving people not only access to the technology but also collective power in deciding how it should be used.

“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,” he noted.

He concluded by urging policymakers, researchers, and technologists to view AI not merely as a tool of progress but as a moral responsibility, one that demands cooperation across nations and sectors to ensure that technological advancement strengthens humanity rather than divides it.

Dr Tijani, in his keynote address, emphasised the need for balance between innovation, research, and regulation, stressing that digital technologies must serve the public good and strengthen social inclusion.

“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,” he said.

He introduced 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.

According to him, nations must ensure that policymaking is guided by research and ethics, not short-term politics or commercial interests.

While noting that platforms like the ICEGOV help strike a balance to ensure innovation serves humanity, the Minister warned that, “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.”

Dr Tijani also highlighted the correlation between research and economic growth, urging developing countries to strengthen ties between academia and government for evidence-based policymaking.

He commended ICEGOV as a global platform that supports collaboration, knowledge exchange, and ethical digital governance, noting that these principles align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“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,” the Minister concluded.

Echoing the Minister’s vision, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, described ICEGOV 2025 as a remarkable milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a digital governance powerhouse.

He revealed that the decision to host the conference was inspired by Dr Tijani’s directive following Nigeria’s successful participation in ICEGOV 2024 in South Africa.

“Honourable Minister said he wants us to host workshops at the ICEGOV 2024 because he believes in research, 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,” he stated.

Inuwa 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: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital’.

He outlined Nigeria’s progress under these pillars, including: the National Digital Literacy Framework, 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 next year, a partnership with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to train all public servants, with over 24,000 already enrolled, 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.

“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,” Inuwa averred.

The DG also highlighted ongoing work on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI, both designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance architecture.

“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,” Inuwa concluded.

Notable dignitaries and distinguished guests who delivered goodwill messages include: the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson Jack who was represented by the PS Career Management Office, Mrs Fatima S.T. Mahmood, the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaibu Afolabi Salisu, Chairman, House Committee On ICT, Hon Stanley Adedeji, amongst others.

They all expressed their strong support for ICEGOV 2025, commending Nigeria’s visionary leadership in advancing digital governance and socio-technical innovation across the continent.

Their remarks underscored the strategic significance of the conference as a catalyst for deepening global dialogue on digital policy, ethical technology deployment, and data-driven governance.

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 infrastructures that foster interoperability, transparency, and trust.

The speakers further highlighted the importance of aligning national digital strategies with global best practices in artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technology regulation, which are all key enablers of sustainable digital development.

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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By Oluwole Alao

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading Africa’s digital governance transformation, emphasising research, collaboration, and digital literacy as key drivers of inclusive national development.

This is in alignment with the presidential redefined priority areas of 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.

The DG made this known at the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”, held at the Shehu Musa Yara’dua Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.

ICEGOV was conceived in 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.

It 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.

While describing the event as a remarkable milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward digital leadership, Inuwa said, “Tonight marks a remarkable milestone in our journey to making Nigeria a leader in digital governance. Our participation in previous ICEGOV events inspired us to take on the challenge of hosting the 2025 edition, the first ever in West Africa.”

Inuwa recalled that Nigeria’s increased involvement in ICEGOV was driven by the vision of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, who insisted that Nigeria must not only attend but also contribute through research and capacity building.

“Honourable Minister said he wants us to host workshops at the ICEGOV 2024 because he believes in research, 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,” he stated.

According to him, hosting ICEGOV 2025 aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification through digitalisation, industrialisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation.

Asserting that the event’s theme mirrors the core of Nigeria’s digital strategy, the NITDA DG explained that co-creation and collaboration are central to the Ministry’s policies, ensuring that digital solutions are designed inclusively and reflect the needs of citizens.

He further disclosed 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: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital’.

He also spotlighted Nigeria’s youth advantage, noting that the country’s young, digitally native population presents a major opportunity for growth.

“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,” Inuwa averred.

To support this vision, Inuwa detailed NITDA’s wide-ranging initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy and public sector capacity which include, the National Digital Literacy Framework, 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 next year, a partnership with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to train all public servants, with over 24,000 already enrolled, and nationwide campaigns to extend digital skills training to market traders, transport workers, senior citizens, and faith-based groups.

He underscored the importance of knowledge exchange and collaboration across Africa, calling for a united effort toward digital self-determination.

“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,” Inuwa concluded.

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