The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, today delivered a compelling keynote speech at the United Nations Open Source Week 2025, held in New York. His address was to mark the Digital Public Infrastructure Day (DPI Day), a globally significant segment of the event spotlighting open, inclusive and interoperable digital systems that can transform public service delivery.

In his remarks, Dr. Tijani emphasised the power of thoughtfully designed technology to restore public trust and strengthen the contract between governments and their citizens. Drawing on examples from Nigeria and across the globe, he spoke to the potential of DPI to serve as the modern-day foundation for social infrastructure — built on principles of openness, privacy, interoperability and citizen-centricity.

“Thoughtfully designed and deployed technology offers a unique opportunity for nations to rebuild that trust—by allowing the state to be present in the everyday journeys of its citizens. Not as an intruder. Not as a bystander. But as a quiet, intelligent, and enabling force—responsive, respectful, and reliable,” the Minister noted. “DPI is not just an evolution of e-government—it is a new form of social infrastructure, one that offers a modular, open, and interoperable foundation for innovation to thrive and public services to scale..”

Highlighting Nigeria’s experience, Dr. Tijani referenced the country’s evolving digital identity system and the rise of a thriving fintech ecosystem powered by open banking regulations and inclusive innovation. He also shared insights on the Ministry’s commitment to building a DPI framework that enables startups, civic tech and local innovators to scale impact — aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Dr. Tijani concluded by calling on nations to lead with moral clarity, invest in foundational digital infrastructure, and collaborate across sectors to realise the full promise of DPI. “Let us not just build DPI systems,” he said. “Let us build a new compact of trust — with technology as the bridge and leadership as the compass.”