By Isime Esene

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy is pleased to announce that Nigeria has been officially confirmed as the host country for the 2025 International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) edition.

This confirmation by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) marks a historic milestone in our nation’s digital transformation journey, showcasing Nigeria’s leadership in digital governance, innovation, and technological advancements on the global stage.

ICEGOV is a prestigious global conference that convenes governments, academia, international organisations, industry leaders, and civil society to exchange insights, research, and best practices in electronic governance. Hosting this event presents a unique opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, foster multidisciplinary collaborations, and drive policy innovations that will shape the future of governance in Africa and beyond.

Speaking on this momentous achievement, the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated: “Nigeria’s selection to host ICEGOV 2025 is a recognition of our efforts to drive digital transformation and innovation in governance. I am a firm believer in the importance of the academia and research in supporting global discussions on e-Governance and we have seen this in some of the input in government initiatives like the National AI Strategy and the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill which are laying the foundation for the growth of Nigeria’s Digital Economy. As we prepare to welcome you all to Nigeria, we look forward to very useful outcomes that will be beneficial for the growth of digital governance and policy development globally.”

“Nigeria’s selection to host ICEGOV 2025 is a recognition of our efforts to drive digital transformation and innovation in governance.”

With the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) serving as the Local Organiser, ICEGOV 2025 will provide a platform for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and policy dialogue, reinforcing Nigeria’s strategic role in shaping the future of e-Governance, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and sustainable digital transformation.

As we embark on this journey, the Ministry calls upon stakeholders across government, academia, industry, and civil society to join hands in ensuring the successful hosting of ICEGOV 2025. This is our time to showcase Nigeria’s digital achievements, thought leadership, and capacity to drive technological advancements for sustainable governance.

Nigeria is ready. The world is watching. Together, we will shape the future of digital governance.

Stay tuned for further details and updates across our official channels.

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Five Nigerian researchers made a significant impact at the 17th International Conference on the Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2024) in Pretoria, South Africa.

The event, organized by the United Nations University and UNESCO, attracted more than 336 participants from 49 countries, underscoring the global importance of digital governance.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani was represented by Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Kashifu emphasized that the researchers’ participation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to leverage technology for economic diversification and enhanced governance.

The DG highlighted the significance of Nigeria’s representation at the conference, noting that out of 157 submitted papers, only 85 were accepted, reflecting the competitive nature of the event.

Kashifu stated that the insights gained from the research could catalyse technological innovations crucial for economic diversification and governance improvement, furthering President Tinubu’s vision.

The Director-General reiterated NITDA’s commitment to continuously support research initiatives, ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of advancements in digital governance.

The research that was showcased spans various aspects of digital transformation, collectively aiming to enhance e-governance and stimulate economic growth through technological innovation.

Hassana Asuku’s presentation, “Bridging the Broadband Gap,” addresses the digital divide in rural areas by proposing a comprehensive strategy to improve broadband access. Her multidimensional approach seeks to enhance economic inclusion and civic engagement, aligning with the government’s push for digital growth.

Adeyinka Patrick Adewumi’s research on “Digital Competency in the Public Sector” highlights the challenges posed by low digital skills among civil servants. He proposes a model for targeted training and infrastructure upgrades to accelerate digital transformation.

Dr. Agbali Mohammed’s work on “Scalable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)” tackles institutional barriers to deploying effective DPI in Nigeria, aiming to enhance public-private partnerships and improve regulatory frameworks.

Dr. Tanimu Mukhtar Garba’s research on “Tax Compliance for SMEs” introduces the Taxpoynt platform, designed to simplify tax processes for small businesses. This advancement is crucial considering the significant role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economy.

Dr. Salihu Dasuki Ibrahim’s work on “Citizens’ Freedoms in E-Governance” explores how DPI can enhance citizen liberties, addressing obstacles such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and data privacy concerns.

The contributions of these researchers not only position Nigeria as a leading voice in the global conversation on digital governance but also reflect the nation’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth and improved governance.

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Nigeria is planning to host a workshop at the 17th Edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV). This is to further support DPI’s effective design and implementation by the Federal Government.

Interested researchers from the wider academic networks are called to submit papers tailored to the workshop’s theme “Designing and Implementing Scalable and Inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in African Context”.

The DPI-tailored paper should be submitted into the following tracks of the conference:
Track 1: Trust and Ethical Digital Governance for the World We Want.
Track 4: Digital Transformation and Innovation in the Public Sector.
Track 7: Future-ready Digital Workforce and Infrastructure Development.
Track 10: Public and Private Sector Governing Digital Economies; and
Track 11: Focus on the Global South Digital Transformation.

Sponsorship

The main author of the top three selected DPI-tailored papers will be sponsored to participate in the Special Workshop.
If your paper is accepted by ICEGOV, kindly notify NITDA by forwarding an acceptance notification by ICEGOV to llamid@nitda.gov.ng on or before 12 July 2024.

Special Dates

Paper Submission Deadline: 21 April 2024
ICEGOV Acceptance Notification: 10 July 2024
Winners’ Announcement Date: 15 July 2024

Background on ICEGOV

ICEGOV is an annual gathering of academia, governments, international organisations, civil society, and industry to share the latest insights and experiences in the theory and practice of Digital Governance. The United Nations University (UNU-EGOV) organises the international conference in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The ICEGOV2024 will take place in Pretoria, South Africa from the 1st to the 4th of October 2024 at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg with a main theme of “Trust and Ethical Digital Governance for the World We Want”.

Objectives

Specifically, the objective is to:

1. Deepen Nigeria’s position in global research in key technology areas (the top 25 percentile) as proposed in the FMCIDE strategic plan;
2. Provide wider local and global perspectives to critical concepts of implementing and accelerating digital governance;
3. Strengthen Nigerian research leadership in digital governance in the Global South; and
4. Enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global digital community.

Why is Nigeria Participating?

ICEGOV2024 presents a great platform for Nigeria to further strengthen its evidence of digital governance position by presenting well-researched and world-class papers from academia, industry and the government.

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