FG Launches $2bn Digital Economy Research Clusters to Boost Innovations

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja 

The Federal Government has launched a $2 billion digital economy research clusters to boost innovations in the academia.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, stated this while speaking at the launch of the Digital Economy Research Clusters, a flagship initiative under Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth), in Abuja.

Project BRIDGE is financed by the Word Bank and will engage university-led research consortia to deliver high-quality, policy-relevant 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 stated that the newly-launched Digital Economy Research Clusters would bring together universities, researchers and global partners to focus on key areas.

According to him, the areas include connectivity and meaningful access, digital public infrastructure and government services, skills and human capital, jobs and the digital economy, trust and consumer protection, as well as AI and 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 remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said that Nigerian universities needed to evolve beyond theoretical learning centres into institutions that nurture innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers capable of competing globally.

“These clusters will help us build innovators and develop solutions that can transform lives in Nigeria and globally,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, who spoke on behalf of other vice-chancellors present at the event, said that the initiative needed more awareness so that the youth would key into it.

https://meet.google.com/call?authuser=1&hl=en&mc=KAIwAZoBFDoScGludG9fNG9jOTBrM2c2YnpoogE7GgIQADICUAA6AhABSgQIARABWgIIAGoCCAFyAggBegIIAogBAZIBAhABmgEEGAEgAKIBAhAA4gECCACyAQcYAyAAKgExwgECIAHYAQE&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&iilm=1775041305265