FG Launches N12 Billion Digital Economy Research Clusters to Drive Evidence-Based Policies
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a N12 billion initiative designed to strengthen research-led policymaking in the country. The announcement was made by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in a statement on Saturday, emphasizing the critical role of research in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
The Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy is inviting academic and research institutions to submit proposals to either lead or collaborate across the newly established clusters. The programme aims to place evidence, research, and long-term thinking at the centre of digital policy decisions, ensuring that strategies are not solely driven by market trends or political cycles.
Under the initiative, six national research clusters will focus on key pillars of the digital economy: Connectivity, Access, and Meaningful Use; Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Government; Digital Skills, Education, and Human Capital; Digital Economy, Jobs, and Livelihoods; Trust, Safety, Consumer Protection, and Online Harms; and Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies. Each cluster will be led by up to 36 professors from Nigerian universities, in collaboration with international academic partners, while over 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, are expected to contribute.
The N12 billion project, initially announced in November 2025, is funded under Project BRIDGE, the Federal Government’s ambitious plan to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to expand digital connectivity, enhance skills development, and support a modern digital economy, ensuring inclusive benefits across Nigerian society.
The launch of these research clusters comes amid Nigeria’s rapidly growing telecommunications and ICT sector, which contributed 18.9% to GDP in 2024 and 10.07% in the fourth quarter of 2025. By fostering research-backed policies, the Federal Government aims to position Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa by 2027, paving the way for innovation, economic growth, and sustainable digital transformation.
source: nairametrics