Nigeria now West Africa’s digital powerhouse, says Tijani

Nigeria has emerged as West Africa's digital powerhouse, with its influence in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity poised to become a cornerstone of its foreign policy, according to Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Tijani emphasized that diplomacy is increasingly shaped by digital capabilities, shifting away from traditional metrics like economic size or military strength.

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I think all of us can testify to the fact that digital is now a major part of our lives in everything we do, and that’s the case for nations as well. So diplomacy in itself is shifting away from just how big your country is, the size of your economy or defence. It’s coming towards digital.

Speaking at a seminar on digital diplomacy, Tijani highlighted Nigeria's unique position in the region. The country is the only one in West Africa with its own communication satellites and boasts the highest number of subsea internet cables. This makes Nigeria the data hub of the region, strategically important for global technology companies and neighboring countries. "The implication of this is that we're a powerful nation. We’ve always been, but in the digital space, we’re a powerful nation," Tijani stated.

The government is actively strengthening Nigeria's cybersecurity architecture through a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Cybersecurity, fostering collaboration between government and the private sector to share intelligence on emerging threats. A resilience-based approach is being adopted to protect critical digital infrastructure, including satellites and networks.

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We’re the only country in the West African region with its own communication satellites; we’re the only country in the West African region with the highest number of subsea cables.

Furthermore, Nigeria is demonstrating leadership in artificial intelligence. It recently ranked as Africa's top nation for responsible AI in an assessment by a University of Cambridge research group. This recognition is attributed to deliberate policies promoting AI innovation while safeguarding national interests. Nigeria has also developed the first government-backed large language model capable of understanding Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ibibio, and accented English, underscoring its commitment to digital advancement and inclusivity.

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The implication of this is that we're a powerful nation. We’ve always been, but in the digital space, we’re a powerful nation.