Nigeria, often referred to as the Giant of Africa, is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. Yet, the country continues to grapple with staggering developmental challenges ─ from a fragile healthcare system and an underperforming education sector to agricultural inefficiencies, security crises, and unreliable infrastructure. The paradox is clear. While talent and potential abound, the tools needed to unlock them, chief among them technology, remain largely untapped at scale.
For Nigeria, technology is no longer a luxury ─ it is a lifeline. Across the world, technology has become an engine of inclusion, resilience, and growth. But in Nigeria, the promise of technology remains unevenly realised. While our fintech sector has shown what is possible, creating billion-dollar startups like Flutterwave and Paystack, core areas of governance, education, healthcare, and agriculture have yet to see similar innovation traction. Meanwhile, in the areas of startups and e-commerce, I have, through a news piece in The Guardian titled ‘How local e-commerce startups can serve Nigerians better’, shown how technology can revolutionise online shopping platforms and businesses in Nigeria.
However, the misconception that technology is only for startups or urban elites has limited public investment in systemic digital solutions. Technology, when embedded in governance, service delivery, and citizen engagement, can radically improve efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness. To buttress this, Ugochukwu Charles Akajiaku’s article in The Punch newspaper titled ‘Shaping AI future’ explains the importance of AI and machine learning technologies in businesses and lives, and why African countries should leverage such technologies for development and growth across all sectors of the economy.
Take healthcare, for example. In many rural communities, clinics lack accurate patient records, disease tracking tools, or data on drug inventory. With a simple digital health platform, community health workers could record patient visits, track maternal health risks, and coordinate vaccine deliveries in real time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with integrated health data systems were able to monitor infection trends, allocate resources efficiently, and communicate public health risks with precision. Nigeria, in contrast, struggled to unify data across states ─ an avoidable failure.
In education, we face not only an infrastructure deficit but also a data gap. We do not know how many teachers are effectively trained, how many students are learning at grade level, or which regions are most at risk of dropouts. Technology can help address this. With real-time attendance and performance dashboards, school administrators can spot problems early. E-learning platforms can bridge gaps in teacher availability. AI-powered tools can adapt content to the needs of individual learners. But these solutions require more than enthusiasm ─ they require vision, investment, and integration into national policy.
Agriculture, which still employs more than one-third of Nigerians, is another overlooked opportunity for technology. Many farmers lack access to weather forecasts, soil health data, market prices, or modern irrigation insights. Yet, with satellite imagery, mobile advisory services, and smart sensors, farmers could reduce losses, increase yields, and sell at better prices. Countries like India and Ethiopia are already using such tools to drive rural transformation. Nigeria can and should do the same.
Even urban management can benefit immensely from technology. Lagos, for instance, loses billions annually due to traffic congestion. With proper traffic sensor data, route optimisation algorithms, and urban mobility apps, commuting could be safer, faster, and less polluting. GIS platforms could also be used to identify informal settlements, track environmental degradation, and plan infrastructure projects more equitably.
However, the barriers to scaling these innovations are significant. The first is a lack of infrastructure, especially internet access and electricity in rural areas. The second is poor digital literacy, especially among public servants who are often unfamiliar with tech tools and sceptical of change. The third, and perhaps most critical, is weak coordination between the government, technology ecosystem, and academia.
Nigeria needs a deliberate strategy to mainstream technology into every aspect of governance and development. This begins with the federal and state governments adopting a ‘Digital First’ policy mindset. Every new initiative, whether in health, education, or transportation, should be evaluated for how technology can improve its reach and impact. Ministries and agencies must be retooled with digital talent, not just traditional bureaucrats. A Chief Innovation Officer should be appointed in each major government agency to drive this cultural shift.
In parallel, we must invest in digital public infrastructure, not just roads and bridges. Capacity building is also critical. Programmes like Data Science Nigeria and Decagon are training the next generation of AI engineers and software developers. But more is needed. We need national technology academies that work hand-in-hand with universities, the private sector, and development partners to train professionals in areas like cybersecurity, machine learning, GIS, IoT, and robotics.
Local governments must not be left behind. Capacity at the grassroots is where digital transformation will either succeed or stall. The private sector has a crucial role to play, but it must be incentivised to work on public-interest technology tools. The government should provide funding windows, co-creation labs, and open procurement platforms where startups can collaborate with the public sector on innovation.
At the heart of all this must be a strong commitment to digital inclusion and ethics. Technology should not widen inequalities or entrench surveillance. Tools must be designed in local languages, accessible to people with disabilities, and responsive to the realities of Nigeria’s diverse communities. Above all, Nigeria must move from being a consumer of foreign technologies to a builder of local solutions. Our universities, research institutions, and innovation hubs must lead in developing indigenous technologies tailored to our challenges. The time for pilot projects and hackathon announcements has passed. Nigeria must now enter a phase of technology-enabled governance where digital tools are not side experiments, but core to how we manage our society.
Countries that fail to digitise their development will be left behind. Nigeria cannot afford that fate. Our youth are ready. The ideas exist. The tools are available. What remains is for leaders, at all levels, to recognise that technology is not a future to prepare for. It is the present we must embrace.
Ajibade, Data Scientist and software developer, writes from Lagos.
