Why Nigeria Must Bet on Technology
By Fatima Musa Muhammad Runka,
In a country where youth form the largest segment of the population, the future does not merely lie ahead—it pulses urgently in the present, waiting to be shaped. Nigeria, the giant of Africa by numbers and potential, stands at a turning point in its development journey. And if there is one tool capable of unlocking its promise, it is technology.
Our path to innovation and growth begins not in Silicon Valley, but right here—in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and every community where young minds are brimming with ideas. But ideas alone are not enough. They need infrastructure, mentorship, investment, and a forward-thinking policy environment that nurtures creativity instead of stifling it.
The truth is, Nigeria is not lacking in talent. Our tech-savvy youth are already reshaping industries—from fintech apps easing financial transactions to healthtech platforms making healthcare more accessible. In these innovations, we catch a glimpse of what is possible when vision meets support.
Yet, for these sparks to ignite lasting change, we must first address the foundational gaps. Fast, affordable internet must become a right, not a luxury. Digital literacy must be embedded into our education system from the ground up. Our tech hubs must go beyond clusters of co-working spaces and become springboards for solving real national challenges.
We must also create a culture where innovation is celebrated and rewarded. That means investing heavily in STEM education, building incubators and accelerators, and ensuring access to capital for young innovators—especially women and those in underserved regions.
Startups need more than seed funding; they need partnerships, mentorship, and protection from hostile regulatory bottlenecks. Government policies must evolve with the times, not lag behind them. The private sector, too, has a role—to collaborate, not compete, with emerging tech players.
Yes, there are obstacles—cybersecurity risks, infrastructural decay, and a policy environment that can sometimes feel reactive instead of visionary. But challenges are not the end of the story—they are invitations to act.
Technology, when intentionally developed and inclusively applied, can drive transparency in governance, unlock efficiency in agriculture, revolutionize healthcare, and reimagine education. It can help diversify our oil-dependent economy and reposition Nigeria as Africa’s digital powerhouse.
But more than all of that, investing in technology is about faith. Faith in the brilliance of our youth. Faith in our ability to adapt and evolve. Faith in Nigeria’s capacity to lead, not follow, in the fourth industrial revolution.
Africa has long been viewed through the lens of its challenges. But in technology, we find a lens of possibility. And if Nigeria can lead in building a resilient, inclusive, and innovative tech ecosystem, then we will not just catch up with the world—we will help shape it.
The future is not waiting for us. It is watching what we do next.
Fatima Musa Muhammad Runka is a 200-level Mass Communication student at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano. She is a registered member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and can be reached via: [email protected].
