By Digital technologies must serve the public good and strengthen social inclusion while taking note of the need to balance between innovation, research, and regulation.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria stands at the intersection of innovation, youth, and digital transformation warning that the state of a society reflects the ideas that dominate it.
Bosun who made the remark in a keynote address at the the 18th edition of the International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025 stated that “When good ideas strike, nations prosper; when bad ideas prevail, nations decay.”
According to him, nations must ensure that policymaking is guided by research and ethics, not short-term politics or commercial interests.
While noting that platforms like the ICEGOV help strike a balance to ensure innovation serves humanity, he said, “If our ideas are driven solely by profit or short-term politics, we end up with regulations that react to innovation rather than guide it.”
Tijani also highlighted the correlation between research and economic growth, urging developing countries to strengthen ties between academia and government for evidence-based policymaking.
The 18th edition, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation, and Inclusion”, is chaired by the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof Tschilidzi Marwala and Dr Bosun Tijani.
Also speaking, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa, said that he conference theme aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan of Accelerating the Nation’s Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency, which is anchored on five pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital’.
“Digital transformation is not just about technology. it’s about improving how we serve our citizens, and governance must meet citizens where they are, which is online. Our goal is to build trust, efficiency, and better service experiences,” Inuwa stated.
In his presentation, Marwala called for the responsible and inclusive development of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the technology must work for all people, including Africans, if it is to achieve its full potential as a tool for global progress.
He said that AI is rapidly transforming every aspect of human life but warned that its design and governance must prioritise equality, ethics, and the common good.
“Artificial intelligence is shaping many areas of our lives, but it must be designed so that it does not leave anyone behind. AI will remain suboptimal until it works equally for all people, including the people of Nigeria and, by extension, the African continent,” he said.
