Despite two decades of liberalisation and remarkable growth, Nigeria’s telecommunications industry remains largely untapped, with over 85 percent of its potential yet to be fully harnessed, according to Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, an ICT policy expert and managing director of Teledom.
Dr. Ekuwem, who spoke recently on the future of digital connectivity in Nigeria, described the nation’s telecom sector as “a goldmine waiting to be fully exploited.”
He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in mobile telephony, broadband penetration, and digital service delivery, the real potential of the sector lies in deepening infrastructure, driving innovation, and expanding access to rural and underserved communities.
“The telecom industry in Nigeria is still 85 percent untapped. The potential is humongous,” Dr. Ekuwem declared. “What we’ve seen so far is only scratching the surface. There are vast opportunities in broadband, fibre deployment, data centers, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), fintech integration, and e-governance that are yet to be fully realizlsed.”
He explained that true economic transformation will depend on how Nigeria leverages technology to enhance productivity, improve education and healthcare delivery, and enable efficient governance.
According to Ekuwem, Nigeria’s youthful population, combined with its growing appetite for digital services, places the country in a prime position to lead Africa’s digital economy, if the right policies, investments, and collaborations are sustained.
“We have the market, we have the people, and we have the creativity. What we need now is deliberate investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building, and policy consistency,” he emphasised.
The ICT veteran urged the Federal Government, industry regulators, and private operators to prioritize last-mile connectivity, indigenous innovation, and digital inclusion to unlock the sector’s full value chain.
Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem also highlighted the importance of local content development in telecommunications, noting that Nigeria must move from being a consumer of imported technology to becoming a producer of digital solutions that can serve both domestic and regional markets.
He concluded that with the right mix of policy support, investment, and innovation, the telecom sector could contribute more significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), create millions of jobs, and position Nigeria as a continental technology hub.
“If we commit to this journey, the next decade will define Nigeria’s place in the global digital order,” he said.
