Tag: Tijani

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani has said that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) offers a practical solution to addressing the growing trust deficit between citizens and their governments, especially across Africa.

Speaking at a high level discussion on Digital Public Goods and Global Digital Cooperation at the Internet Governance Forum in Oslo, Norway, Tijani noted that citizens increasingly demand efficient, transparent and responsive services whether it is a student applying to university, parents registering the birth of a child, or vulnerable people seeking government support. 

He pointed out that while many governments are struggling to meet these needs, the inability to meet all the needs has led to a breakdown in public trust.

“DPG is important for those who work in the public sector. Across the world, there is a massive trust deficit where citizens are asking questions to their government. A young person who wants to go to university is seeking support and wants the journey to be simple, a young couple that is giving birth to a child want to be able to raise their kids seamlessly, and vulnerable people expect support from their government. Citizens demand better service and governance, but governments are trying to meet those demands. This is where DPI comes in,” the Minister said.

He described DPI as a form of social infrastructure, made up of open, modular, and interoperable digital tools known as Digital Public Goods (DPGs), adding that, unlike traditional e-government systems that often function in isolation, DPI is built on principles that promote integration and transparency.

“What makes DPI different is that it doesn’t create silos. It helps governments deliver services faster, more cheaply, and in a way citizens can rely on. When done right, DPI restores confidence in public institutions,” he said.

The Minister stressed that without strictly adhering to DPI principles such as openness, interoperability, and public ownership, governments risk repeating past mistakes. “If we do not follow these principles, then it is not DPI. We are simply rebuilding old problems with new tools,” he warned.

Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Takuo Imagawa, Digital Affairs, shared his country’s experience, where trust in digital governance has grown significantly through the rollout of a national digital ID system.

Read Also: BREAKING: Tijani emerges as vice chairman International Telecommunication Union

He informed over 98 million Japanese citizens have adopted the digital ID, which now links to services such as health insurance, driver’s licenses, and e-KYC platforms.

“Ensuring DPI is secure and inclusive is key to earning public trust. Our digital ID system is a foundation for digital cooperation. It’s making services more user-friendly and responsive to real needs.”

He added that Japan is now exploring partnerships with the private sector to enhance the value of its digital systems and move toward a more connected society. Open-source technologies, he said, are playing a vital role in promoting transparency, innovation, and efficiency.

From Brazil, the Deputy Secretary for Digital Governance, Luanna Roncaratti, also emphasised the importance of digital tools in restoring confidence not only in service delivery but also in policymaking.

“Digital technologies are powerful for tackling climate and environmental challenges. Managing policies without adequate data is like assembling a puzzle without knowing what the final picture should look like.”

She highlighted how Brazil is using DPI to guide better decisions in territorial and environmental policy, making governance more informed and people-centred.

Back in Africa, the Nigerian minister said DPI is especially relevant as the continent seeks to harness the potential of its over 1.3 billion population, pointing out that with young entrepreneurs building tech startups and governments attempting to integrate services, DPI offers a framework for scale, innovation, and shared progress.

“DPI helps us spend smarter, break silos, and rebuild trust. It’s how we make technology work for the people, not just for the system,” the minister said.

The Ojokoro-Local Council Development Area chairman, Hamed Idowu Daniels Tijani, has urged Nigerian youths to reconsider the planned protest set to begin on August 1, 2024, warning that it could be hijacked by hoodlums and lead to property destruction.

He made this appeal during an interview with the press at the Jay9 League finals held at Olera Pitch in Meiran Housing Estate.

He said: “I want to call on the youths of Ifako-Ijaiye local government and Nigeria not to be involved in the protest, we don’t need it, the federal government administration is just a year plus and we need to give the president time, if you protest and bring down one of the buildings in this estate, with a tractor, in 2hours, you will be done, but to rebuild it, even if I have all the resources, the engineers that are ready to work and the money, I can’t finish it in two months because of the processes involved, before now the country has gone through so many things, so we need time.

Read Also: Tijani, NCC boss revamping communications sector – Centre

“Destroying properties will not make a change, many of these things are not produced in Nigeria, so we have to import them, there’s no way the Dollar won’t rise, and these are factors that affect the economy.”

In a bid to alleviate hunger and unemployment in the local government, the chairman, popularly known as HID, affirmed that his administration has acquired 100 acres of land for farming and will be giving grants to interested personnel to farm on the land.

He added: “In order to make us self-sufficient in the area of food production, the local government acquired 100 acres of land, s that the youths and people that have interest can go into farming, and we are going to encourage them by giving them grants, in the next one week, we are partnering with Wema Bank to roll out financial empowerment for 500 people, giving them 50,000 Naira each, as a government, these are the part of the areas we felt should be addressed even from the grassroots.”

The federal government said on Monday, April 15, that it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that Nigeria has a voice in the development and regulations of Artificial Intelligence on the global stage.

The Nation gathered that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the global community is expected to hit 15.7 trillion dollars by 2030.

The government said because there would soon be a global convergence on the ways and manners Artificial Intelligence are developed and deployed by global powers, it has become imperative for Nigeria to be an active participant.

The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani made the remarks at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja during the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy organised by the Ministry.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry in conjunction with the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence, the Galaxy Backbone, Google and other Development Partners.

The workshop had the theme:” Developing the high-level Strategy and implementation plan for a National AI strategy for Nigeria.”

No fewer than 120 local and international organisations and professional groups, including the academia, are participating in the workshop.

The minister said: “Digital technology is a reality in Asia, America, and Europe. The reality should be the same in Nigeria and Africa. We cannot afford to be left behind.

Read Also: NITDA eyes $13 trillion global AI market

“The US, UK and Asia all have input on how AI is developed and regulated. Right now, there are lots of silos regarding the ways and manners AI is developed and applied. In a short while, there will be a convergence of AI systems, so Nigeria should be part of that global superpower in the development and regulations of AI.

“AI is going to change the narratives in all areas of human endeavours and we are here to develop a strategic roadmap that would enhance our knowledge, skills, participation, development, deployment, etc.”

Tijani, who praised the sponsors of the programme and other development partners, said Nigeria should show leadership from the perspective of Africa on how AI is deployed.

“Any technology that has the potential of a watchdog on how we think and what we do,  our goals should not be restricted to what we get as a nation, but what it would mean to humanity as a whole”,  Tijani asserted.

He said he expected the workshop to come up with far-reaching and deep resolutions and strategies on the way forward for the adoption and deployment of AI in Nigeria.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa in his remarks said Nigeria should benefit from the global AI market with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 15. 7 trillion dollars by 2030.

Inuwa explained that the AI industry would add between 2.7 to 4.6 trillion dollars to the Global economy before 2030, stressing that it is an opportunity Nigeria should not miss.

According to him, the AI workshop being packaged by all stakeholders is not only critical but presents an opportunity for the country to develop a strategy to maximise the potential in the sector.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr Farouk Yau, said it was heartwarming for Nigeria to assemble brilliant minds, innovators, and researchers who are united in shaping the future of AI in the country.

He said: “Artificial Intelligence is very transformative for Nigeria especially our economy in different sectors, it will increase productivity in agriculture, enhance health, education, and other sectors.

“It is clear today that AI knows no boundaries, therefore, as we gather today, we are laying a foundation where AI will become integral parts of our future. Please, approach this task with the mindsets that focus on practicality, and implementable solutions within Nigeria’s context taking into consideration our cultures, traditions, and sovereignty of the country.”