Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 will depend largely on its ability to translate digital innovation into increased productivity, industrial growth, investment and job creation, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Olusola Obadimu, has said.
Obadimu stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026, held at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
He challenged stakeholders to move beyond discussions about technological advancement and focus on converting innovation into measurable economic benefits.
According to him, the question is no longer whether digital technology will transform Nigeria’s economy, but how effectively the country can harness it to drive productivity, industrialisation, exports, employment and national development.
“We are no longer debating whether digital technology will transform our economy. It already is. The question is whether Nigeria will merely consume that transformation or deliberately connect it to productivity, industrialisation, jobs, exports and national growth,” he said.
The NACCIMA chief said achieving President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economic target would require stronger alignment between technology, enterprise and investment.
He maintained that sustainable economic growth must be driven by productive businesses across agriculture, manufacturing, mining, trade and services rather than relying solely on government interventions.
“The road to a one-trillion-dollar economy runs through productivity. That economy will not be built in government offices. It will be built on farms, in factories, in laboratories and through businesses that create value every day,” he added.
Obadimu identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as critical drivers of the country’s economic transformation, stressing that digital policies would have limited impact unless they directly improved the productivity and competitiveness of small businesses.
He also highlighted the growing partnership between NACCIMA and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), describing it as a strategic initiative to bridge the gap between technological innovation and commercialisation.
Speaking at the conference, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, industry players, academia, development partners and innovators to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a thriving digital economy.
Onumo described the digital economy as a strategic driver of national development, innovation and competitiveness, noting that emerging technologies were reshaping businesses, industries and societies globally.
“We are not here merely to discuss the future; we are here to build it. Digital Nigeria is designed to move beyond conversations to implementation, collaboration and measurable impact,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria had the talent, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative capacity to become a leading digital economy but stressed the need for deliberate investments in skills development, entrepreneurship, infrastructure, innovation and strategic partnerships.
According to him, the 2026 conference was structured around four strategic pillars, focusing on identifying the people who would shape Nigeria’s digital future, determining how that future would be built, equipping citizens with relevant digital skills and recognising individuals and organisations driving excellence in the ecosystem.
Onumo stressed that no single institution could build Nigeria’s digital future alone, urging government, industry, academia and development partners to work together to unlock the sector’s potential.
One of the major highlights of the conference was the Builders Festival, an initiative designed to move Nigeria’s technology ecosystem from generating ideas to developing practical solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
Speaking on the initiative, Glory Olamigoke and David Ogobe said Nigeria’s technology ecosystem had recorded significant growth over the past decade, driven by software developers, entrepreneurs and technology professionals whose innovations had transformed sectors such as financial technology, digital payments, mobility and digital commerce.
They, however, noted that the next phase of growth would depend on developing a new generation of innovators capable of building products and businesses that address practical economic and societal challenges.
Unlike conventional technology conferences, the Builders Festival began by identifying specific industry challenges rather than merely showcasing existing innovations.
Companies and institutions were invited to submit operational and industry-related problems requiring technological solutions. Following an extensive review, organisers selected 21 priority challenges and invited startups, developers, entrepreneurs and innovators across the country to develop solutions.
The initiative attracted more than 1,500 applications, reflecting the growing interest of Nigerian innovators in using technology to address economic and social challenges.
Following a rigorous selection process, 30 finalists emerged and developed prototypes which they presented to investors, industry leaders and judges.
The overall winner received a $50,000 equity-free grant, alongside mentorship and institutional support, while other outstanding participants secured grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000.
Beyond the financial incentives, participants gained access to investors, regulators, industry experts, business development networks and other opportunities to scale their innovations into commercially viable enterprises.
Olamigoke and Ogobe said the initiative was significant because it addressed one of the major challenges confronting African innovators: the disconnect between talent and opportunities.
They observed that although Nigeria had no shortage of talented young innovators, many lacked access to funding, mentorship, business infrastructure and market opportunities needed to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses.
The initiative, they said, aligned with NACCIMA’s position that innovation must translate into productivity and commercial value, as well as NITDA’s vision of building an ecosystem where technology is deployed to solve problems and create economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, stakeholders at the conference emphasised the importance of cybersecurity, digital resilience and public trust in sustaining Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General E.S. Mustapha, warned that the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies had heightened cybersecurity risks and created fresh national security challenges.
Mustapha, represented at the event by an official, described cybersecurity and digital resilience as strategic national priorities, calling for stronger collaboration, capacity building and investment in digital skills to protect the country’s digital infrastructure.
Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, represented by a Commissioner of Police, Ayodele Oluyemi, highlighted the growing importance of technology in intelligence-led and citizen-focused policing.
He said artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital forensics and secure communication systems were increasingly shaping modern policing, stressing the need for stronger partnerships to tackle emerging security threats.
On data protection, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, represented by the Head of Innovation Department, Ms Adaobi Nwankwo, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to data privacy, responsible data governance and digital trust.
Olatunji said public confidence was fundamental to successful digital transformation, particularly as governments, businesses and individuals increasingly depended on digital platforms and services.
He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that technological innovation thrived within a secure environment that protected citizens’ rights and personal information.
Also speaking, Mr Paul Apiade, who represented the Federal Character Commission, said digital transformation must expand opportunities rather than create new forms of exclusion.
He noted that technology had become essential to improving governance, promoting transparency and strengthening public service delivery.
Apiade urged stakeholders to ensure that all Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical location, gender, social status or background, benefited from opportunities created by the digital economy.
He also acknowledged NITDA’s support in strengthening digital capacity across government institutions, identifying cybersecurity, data protection and digital trust as critical components of an inclusive digital future.
As discussions, exhibitions, masterclasses and innovation showcases continued, participants agreed that Nigeria possessed the market, talent, entrepreneurial energy and innovation ecosystem required to emerge as one of Africa’s leading digital economies.
They, however, stressed that achieving the ambition would require deliberate efforts to connect innovation with industry, startups with customers, skills with employment, ideas with investment and policies with implementation.
Participants said the ultimate success of Digital Nigeria 2026 would not be measured by speeches and presentations at the conference but by the businesses created, technologies commercialised, investments attracted, jobs generated and lives improved through the initiatives and partnerships established.
