Stakeholders in the Ogun State technology ecosystem have urged the governor, Dapo Abiodun, to establish a dedicated Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, arguing that only a formal, institutional focus can transform the state’s promising digital talent and infrastructure into sustainable economic growth.
The Ogun tech community, a coalition of technology professionals, startups, innovation hubs, and digital advocates across the state, said the delay in establishing an ICT-focused ministry is undermining Ogun’s ability to leverage federal digital initiatives and take advantage of national policies such as the Nigeria Startup Act.
The group urged the state government to rename the existing Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to the Ministry of Education and establish a new Ministry of ICT that would focus exclusively on the digital transformation of the state.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its president, Durosinmi Adekunle, the group said that despite Ogun State producing two leading tech policy figures, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who is Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, the state has not turned this advantage into real progress locally.
“Ogun State has the innovators, the talent, and the national representation to lead Nigeria’s digital economy. What is missing is the institutional structure to harness these opportunities.
“A Ministry of ICT will allow Ogun State to align with federal initiatives, implement crucial policies like the Startup Act, and fully develop Silicon Hill—our own Silicon Valley—to nurture globally competitive tech talent,” Durosinmi said in the statement.
The group expressed concern that without a clear administrative and policy framework driven by a dedicated ICT ministry, Ogun would continue to lose out on critical programmes, funding, and partnerships being rolled out at the national level.
The tech community noted that several states are already positioning themselves as tech hubs through proactive government structures, while Ogun, once considered a natural contender, is at risk of being left behind.
Referencing the creation of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy by the Federal Government, the Ogun tech community argued that states need to follow suit if they are to tap into the benefits of Nigeria’s digital transformation strategy.
The community stressed that many national digital initiatives are structured in ways that require direct state-level institutional collaboration, something Ogun currently lacks.
The statement added, “There is a growing digital gap, and if we don’t address it urgently, the state will be left out of the future of work, digital entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.”
The call comes amid rising agitation among Nigeria’s tech ecosystem for stronger state-level policy implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act, which was signed into law in 2022 to promote innovation, provide tax incentives, and support young startups across the country.
Ogun tech stakeholders argued that the absence of a dedicated ministry has made it difficult for the state to take advantage of these opportunities.
The community emphasised that a Ministry of ICT would not only serve as a channel for federal policies and donor support but also drive homegrown initiatives that could transform education, governance, health, agriculture, and job creation in the state through technology.
The group reiterated its readiness to support the government in developing the blueprint for the ministry, promising full collaboration from stakeholders across the ICT value chain in Ogun State.
“We are calling on His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to take decisive action. The time to act is now. Ogun cannot afford to watch other states take the lead in digital governance while we lag behind,” the statement concluded.
