By 
By Osasómé C.O
As Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, marks his first year in office, he reflects on the strides made in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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“In reflecting on my tenure as Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, I am proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past year in laying a foundation for the growth of our digital economy,” Dr. Tijani shared on his LinkedIn page.
“The clarity provided by our Strategic Blueprint, aligned with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has kept us focused on delivering growth through innovative projects, programs, and policies.”
Key initiatives spearheaded by Dr. Tijani include the Presidential Project 774, which aims to expand digital access across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria through VSAT installations. and the 3MTT (Three Million Talents Technology) program, designed to equip young Nigerians with essential technology skills.
In May, Dr. Tijani announced a major milestone with the approval for the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to accelerate the deployment of fiber optic cables nationwide and the establishment of the Nigerian Digital Technology Exchange Programme Hub in San Francisco, USA. There is also the BuildAThon2024, an initiative to introduce senior secondary students to embedded systems and the maker culture.
“As we mark one year in office, I would like to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for entrusting me with this responsibility and for his unwavering support,” Dr. Tijani added.
A mix of achievements, criticisms and concerns
Despite these achievements, the minister faces some criticisms. Critics point to financial difficulties within the 3MTT program. These have reportedly hampered payments to partnering organisations responsible for training sessions. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of a sustainable framework for placing trained individuals into employment, questioning the program’s long-term impact.
The ambitious Project 774 LG Connectivity, co-anchored by Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited and Galaxy Backbone, aims to foster inclusive development by providing digital public infrastructure in government offices nationwide. However, some observers express doubts about the government’s capacity to effectively manage and sustain such a large-scale initiative.
Undeterred, Dr. Tijani remains optimistic. “We have started on a positive note, and I will be highlighting some of our current and ongoing initiatives over the last year to showcase what we have achieved so far. I recognize that there’s more work ahead, and I am confident that together, we will deliver on our objectives,” he stated.
