Nigeria has showcased its progress in digital infrastructure, broadband expansion and sustainable development at high-level events held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, highlighted the administration’s progress in expanding broadband connectivity to underserved communities.
Tijjani specifically noted that the BRIDGE project is expected to provide digital access to more than 20 million Nigerians, as the country continues efforts to expand digital inclusion.
Data Protection and Public Trust
Alongside the expansion of digital infrastructure, the importance of responsible data governance was also highlighted during the engagements.
The National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, emphasized that Nigeria’s expanding digital public infrastructure and social registers must operate strictly within the safeguards of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
According to Olatunji, this is necessary to preserve public trust and ensure that citizens’ data is processed securely and transparently.
Nigeria Engages Global Stakeholders
The UNGA platform also provided an opportunity for Nigeria to exchange regulatory experiences and policy frameworks on responsible data use with global stakeholders.
Delegates emphasized that digital infrastructure can only deliver its full socio-economic value and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) when supported by strong privacy protection and accountability.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s institutional capacity, improve safety nets for vulnerable citizens and foster a globally trusted data ecosystem.
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