Nigeria’s technology ecosystem faces a significant gap between public interest in digital solutions and their actual adoption, with new research highlighting untapped opportunities for investment, innovation and policy reforms across key sectors of the economy.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this at the Nigeria Tech Outlook event in Lagos. He stressed that Nigeria could not fully realise its technology potential without reliable digital infrastructure, strategic investment and evidence-based policies.
Citing findings from a survey involving more than 2,000 Nigerians, Inuwa revealed that over 80 per cent of respondents were willing to use telemedicine services, while fewer than 20 per cent had ever used them. The figures underscore the gap between demand for digital services and actual adoption, particularly in healthcare, while presenting opportunities for investors and innovators to develop solutions that address existing needs.
The findings are expected to feature in the Nigeria Tech Outlook, an initiative developed by NITDA in collaboration with the SATH Foundation to assess technology access, adoption and its contribution to productivity across the Nigerian economy.
Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s technology talent, innovative ideas and entrepreneurial achievements alone would not guarantee global competitiveness without a stronger ecosystem to support growth.
He said the country must move beyond celebrating individual successes to building the infrastructure, policy environment and investment partnerships needed to translate innovation into broader economic benefits.
The first edition of the outlook will focus on five key sectors: financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, government services, and healthcare. It will also examine emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, alongside cybersecurity, digital trust and governance, data privacy, cloud computing and digital infrastructure.
According to the NITDA director-general, the report is designed to give stakeholders a clearer understanding of where technology adoption is progressing, where barriers remain and where investments could deliver measurable economic and social benefits.
He maintained that technology policies and regulations must be guided by research findings and industry realities rather than assumptions. He therefore urged business leaders and other stakeholders to contribute their expertise to reviewing the findings and identifying practical interventions.
He explained that this approach would help policymakers address barriers to technology adoption, enable businesses to identify market opportunities and support innovators in developing solutions to pressing national challenges.
The outlook is also expected to provide investors with information to guide decisions on emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy while helping government agencies develop policies that can accelerate technology adoption.
Speaking at the event, the founder and chairman of the SATH Foundation, Collins Onuegbu, said technology had become central to Nigeria’s economic and social development, transforming how people work, trade, communicate, learn and access public services.
He observed that digital innovation was increasingly reshaping business operations, government engagement, security, productivity and national competitiveness.
Onuegbu called for the assessment to be conducted annually, noting that regular reviews would create institutional memory, enable stakeholders to track progress and evaluate priorities, and strengthen the evidence base for decisions concerning Nigeria’s digital future.
He also stressed that discussions on technology development must produce practical outcomes rather than end with speeches. He urged participants to focus on actions that would advance innovation, economic growth and national competitiveness.
The Nigeria Tech Outlook is scheduled to be launched at the Digital Nigeria International Conference. Its long-term value will depend on whether its findings lead to measurable changes in investment decisions, policy implementation and access to digital services, particularly in sectors where public interest has yet to translate into widespread adoption.
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