The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled a national framework to measure the impact of digital technologies on Nigeria’s economy, marking a significant step towards evidence-based policymaking and sustainable digital transformation.
The framework was presented during the Stakeholder Engagement and Validation Workshop on the Indicators and Measurement Framework for the National Research Study on the Impact of Digital Technologies on Nigeria’s Economy, held at the e-Government Training Centre of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) in Abuja.
The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, regulatory institutions, academia, the private sector, development partners and the research community to validate the framework that will guide a nationwide assessment of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of the Special Duties Unit, Mr. Olawumi Oladejo, said building a globally competitive digital economy requires more than deploying technology, stressing that reliable data, credible evidence and strong institutional collaboration are essential for effective policymaking.
He noted that while Nigeria has made significant progress in digital payments, broadband expansion, digital public services, innovation ecosystems and digital entrepreneurship, the absence of a harmonised national measurement system has made it difficult to accurately assess the impact of these investments and identify areas requiring further intervention.
According to Inuwa, the National Research Study is designed to establish a credible evidence base for understanding how digital technologies contribute to economic growth, job creation, innovation, financial inclusion, improved public service delivery and national competitiveness.
He explained that the initiative also aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly its focus on strengthening Nigeria’s technology research ecosystem through data-driven policymaking.
Chairman of the Technical Steering Committee and Director of Research and Development at NITDA, Dr. Saidu Mohammed Kumo, said although Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, the country’s capacity to systematically measure its impact has not kept pace.
He disclosed that researchers from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones collaborated with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to develop a statistically robust framework that assesses three key dimensions digital infrastructure and access, digital capabilities and skills, and digital adoption and the enabling environment.
According to him, these indicators will be applied across five strategic sectors: financial services, government services, e-commerce and digital trade, telecommunications, and e-health.
Dr. Kumo revealed that the committee has proposed 81 core indicators to evaluate how digital technologies are transforming businesses, governance and society, with stakeholders using the workshop to review and refine the framework ahead of nationwide data collection.
Representing the Statistician-General of the Federation, Mrs. Saadatu Hayatuddeen Auwal of the National Bureau of Statistics described digital technology as a key driver of economic growth and stressed the importance of accurate measurement in shaping national development policies. She reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to providing technical support and reliable statistics for the study.
Also speaking, Mrs. Ezedozie Adaora Ifeyinwa, representing the Federal Ministry of Health, commended NITDA for including the health sector among the pilot sectors, noting that technologies such as electronic health records, telemedicine and digital disease surveillance are transforming healthcare delivery.
She, however, identified fragmented health data, varying levels of digital maturity across healthcare institutions and data sensitivity as major challenges requiring coordinated action.
Participants at the workshop reviewed sector-specific methodologies and proposed improvements to the draft framework covering e-health, financial services, e-commerce and digital trade, telecommunications, and government services.
The workshop ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to supporting the development of an institutionalised national digital economy measurement system that will provide credible evidence for policymaking, improve strategic planning, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
