Nigeria has opened applications for the National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a ₦12 billion research funding scheme aimed at placing research and evidence at the centre of the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the programme on Saturday, saying it is funded under Project BRIDGE, the federal initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across the country.
Tijani said the research scheme is designed to ensure that Nigeria’s expanding digital infrastructure is matched by evidence-based policies and long-term thinking that can help society benefit fully from the investment.
He said digital policy is too often shaped by market pressures and political cycles, instead of research, data and rigorous analysis.
Under the programme, Nigeria will establish six national research clusters across major pillars of the digital economy. They are 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.
According to the minister, the six clusters will be led by up to 36 professors from Nigerian universities in collaboration with international academic partners.
He said more than 200 researchers, including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates, are expected to work across the clusters to produce policy-relevant research that will help shape Nigeria’s digital economy in the coming years.
Tijani said the objective goes beyond academic output, adding that the government is seeking stronger policies, better institutions and broader prosperity through the initiative.
He described the programme as one of the most meaningful projects under the ministry’s current portfolio, saying it is intended to create lasting value beyond the lifespan of any single administration.
The minister invited academic and research institutions interested in producing rigorous and policy-relevant work to review the Terms of Reference contained in the Expression of Interest released for the programme and submit proposals to lead or participate in the clusters.
He also said the ministry will hold a press conference in the coming week to provide more details on the initiative, while urging vice-chancellors of universities across Nigeria to watch for further engagement opportunities.
Sub-title: Bosun Tijani says the new scheme will support evidence-based policy and long-term planning across six pillars of Nigeria’s digital economy.
