Expert Assesses Nigeria’s Transformation Trajectory

By Tosin Clegg

The digital transformation journey in Nigeria is at a critical juncture, presenting both immense opportunities for national growth and formidable challenges requiring urgent strategic focus. That was the central message delivered by Olanrewaju Alade, a respected expert in Information System Management and IT Governance, during a recent address titled, “Assessing Digital Transformation in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges, and Strategic Directions.”

Mr Alade, who holds a Master of Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Information System Management, brings a wealth of experience, including previous roles managing IT infrastructure for a Nigerian State Information Technology Agency. His analysis offered a professional, grounded perspective on how Nigeria can successfully transition into a leading global digital economy.

The expert began by highlighting the transformative economic opportunities at hand. Nigeria’s large, youthful, and highly entrepreneurial population is a fertile ground for digital innovation, capable of boosting the contribution of the digital economy to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This demographic dividend, he stressed, is the country’s most valuable asset.

He pointed specifically to sectors ripe for disruption, noting how financial services and agriculture stand to benefit most immediately. Digital financial services (DFS) hold the key to enhancing financial inclusion, particularly for the over 60 million unbanked adults. This shift from cash to mobile money and digital platforms fosters greater transparency and economic formalisation.

Furthermore, digital solutions like precision farming and agri-tech platforms offer a route to solving long-standing efficiency and food security challenges in the agricultural sector. By optimising supply chains and leveraging data analytics, these technologies can create entirely new avenues for value creation and job employment across the country.

Despite the promise, Mr Alade was forthright about the significant barriers impeding smooth digital adoption. He identified the pervasive infrastructure deficit as the most critical hurdle, noting that minimal fixed broadband and unreliable electricity supply in rural and semi-rural areas perpetuate a severe digital divide.

“You cannot build a sophisticated digital economy on shaky foundations,” Mr Alade stated. “Our priority must be universal broadband access. When network coverage is low and power is inconsistent, even the most innovative digital platforms cannot deliver equitable service to all citizens.”

Another major concern is the cybersecurity landscape. Drawing on his certifications, including an Introduction to Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and CompTIA Security+, and his membership in the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and ISACA, he underscored the growing threat of cybercrime.

“Digital transformation increases the attack surface exponentially,” Mr Alade warned. “For digital services to gain public trust, especially in finance and government, we must move beyond basic measures. A proactive approach, potentially incorporating advanced principles like zero-trust architecture, is indispensable for protecting critical national infrastructure and citizen data.”

Turning to strategic directions, Mr Alade outlined a three-pronged approach for the government and private sector. The first pillar is a robust investment in infrastructure. He called for strategic channelling of resources, possibly through public-private partnerships, to accelerate the expansion of fibre networks and digital public infrastructure (DPI) into underserved communities.

The second pillar focuses on policy and governance. He emphasised the necessity of creating stable, predictable regulatory environments to encourage long-term private investment. This involves aligning new digital policies—like those governing cloud computing and data analytics, topics he has researched—with existing national economic goals.

Furthermore, the expert pointed to the need for digitisation within the public service itself. Recalling his own experience assisting with IT infrastructure and computer education development in a state agency, he noted that process optimisation and data-driven decision-making within government are key to enhancing transparency and efficiency for the populace.

The third strategic pillar is human capital development. Mr Alade stressed that the success of any digital transformation is ultimately dependent on the skills of its workforce. The country faces a substantial skills gap that must be addressed through targeted training programmes.

He recommended leveraging initiatives like the National Digital Literacy Framework to ensure digital skills are integrated from basic education upwards, nurturing a cadre of proficient professionals ready to drive local and global innovation, a goal he previously supported through the development of Computer Education in secondary schools.