The federal government has unveiled a $2 billion digital economy research cluster aimed at driving academic innovation.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made this disclosure during the launch of the Digital Economy Research Clusters in Abuja.
This initiative is a flagship component of Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth).
Funded by the World Bank, Project BRIDGE will support university-led research consortia to produce high-quality, policy-focused research across six thematic clusters.
He said, “The digital economy is a knowledge-driven sector. We cannot rely only on ideas developed elsewhere. We must generate our own insights rooted in our realities.
“This is not just about output, but about building credibility, strengthening our research base, and contributing to global knowledge.”
Tijani said the newly launched Digital Economy Research Clusters will unite universities, researchers, and global partners to focus on strategic priority areas.
The minister noted that the focus areas cover connectivity and meaningful access, digital public infrastructure and government services, skills and human capital, jobs and the digital economy, trust and consumer protection, and AI along with other emerging technologies.
” These research clusters are practical and impactful. They will deepen Nigeria’s ability to adopt, shape and deploy technology effectively.
“Our ambition is clear: We want Nigeria to contribute to shaping the global digital economy, and this requires new thinking, evidence and talent.
“This initiative places our universities and researchers at the centre of that ambition,” he said.
In his address, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa emphasized that Nigerian universities must move beyond being purely theoretical learning centers to becoming institutions that cultivate innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers ready to compete on the global stage.
“These clusters will help us build innovators and develop solutions that can transform lives in Nigeria and globally,” he said.
