WeekInReview: Full Week Recap of Activities of the Honourable Minister, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani (Vol. 87/88)

Back to About Us > WeekInReview: Full Week Recap of Activities of the Honourable Minister, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani (Vol. 87/88)

Posted on:

June 10, 2025

INTRO

Over the past two weeks, the Honourable Minister’s engagements have reinforced his Ministry’s commitment to expanding digital access, accelerating infrastructure deployment, promoting innovation, and building inclusive platforms that empower Nigerians — especially in education, agriculture, and underserved communities. From launching innovative projects like Fibre-to-Hostel and Digital Villages, to hosting strategic conversations with global partners such as the Gates Foundation and Microsoft, each step reflects his dedication to driving impactful, people-centred digital transformation.

TIMELINE

Monday, May 26 – Driving Campus Connectivity and Innovation through Strategic Launches

Dr. Tijani was at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to launch our Ministry’s Fibre-to-Hostel initiative aimed at enhancing digital access and connectivity within university campuses across Nigeria by extending high-speed fibre-optic internet directly to student hostels. The initiative which was facilitated by private sector partners – Huawei Technologies and Tizeti – reflects the government’s commitment towards promoting creativity and innovation by providing internet access to diverse communities.
Following the Fibre-to-Hostel launch, the Honourable Minister flagged off the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Impact Alliance – an initiative designed to enhance the sustainability of government investments in digital infrastructure, optimize the deployment of technological resources, and stimulate innovation. In his address at the event, the Honourable Minister emphasized the need for collaboration between public and private sector players as the government works to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.
Next was the unveiling of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Talent City, geared at positioning Nigeria as a global destination for digital services and outsourcing. At the event, Dr. Tijani restated H.E President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to invest massively in the digital economy, drive inclusive growth, and empower the youth.

Tuesday, May 27 – Inauguration of the Presidential DPI Committee

On Tuesday, he attended the inauguration ceremony of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) which is charged with the mandate to ensure a robust, coordinated and legally compliant implementation of DPI, aligning with our nation’s development goals. The Presidential Committee is Chaired by H.E President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Wednesday, May 28 – Expanding Rural Access and Advancing Fibre-to-Home Connectivity

The Honourable Minister launched our Ministry’s second Fibre-to-Home pilot project, this time in the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA). The event was attended by the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, who stated his Ministry’s commitment to provide uninterrupted power supply to institutions so as to support the functionality of the internet infrastructure provided by our Ministry. The event was attended by Patricia Lar, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, including heads of agencies in our Ministry.
After this, Dr. Tijani headed to Ibwa 2, Kura community of Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja where he unveiled a Digital Village as part of our efforts to expand digital access to unserved and underserved communities across the country. The digital village pilot project delivers free public Wi-Fi, e-learning tools, and telemedicine services to the rural community of over 12,000 residents, transforming it into a digitally empowered hub. The Digital Village project is supported by partners including Huawei Technologies and mobile network operator, Glo.

Thursday, May 29 – Celebrating Two Years of Renewed Hope

The Honourable Minister joined other well-meaning Nigerians to celebrate H.E President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2 years in office. In his message, he highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to build a digitally inclusive, innovative, and future-ready Nigeria, under the President’s visionary leadership.

BLUEPRINT ALIGNMENT

The Honourable Minister’s activities over the past two weeks align strongly with two strategic pillars of the Ministry’s blueprint: Infrastructure and Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital.

Under the Infrastructure pillar, the Honourable Minister made significant progress in expanding digital access through the launch of Fibre-to-Hostel and Fibre-to-Home projects at UNILAG and UNIABUJA, connecting students directly to high-speed internet. The commissioning of the Digital Village in Kura community further advanced our Ministry’s goal of bridging the digital divide by delivering free Wi-Fi, e-learning, and telemedicine services to underserved populations. We also strengthened the innovation ecosystem with the commissioning of the NCC Digital Innovation Park in Abeokuta and introduced digital infrastructure for agriculture through the AgriConnect programme, which provided smart devices and connectivity tools to the first cohort of farmers.

In support of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital pillar, Dr. Tijani launched the DBI Talent City to position Nigeria as a hub for digital services and outsourcing, and unveiled the Nigerian AI Scaling Hub in partnership with the Gates Foundation — a transformative initiative to drive responsible AI adoption across key sectors. The AgriConnect programme also highlights our commitment to digital entrepreneurship, equipping farmers with AI-powered tools to improve productivity. Strategic engagements with global partners such as the Gates Foundation and Microsoft further demonstrate the Honourable Minister’s resolve to unlock new sources of capital, expertise, and mentorship to power innovation-driven growth.

Tuesday, June 3 – Forging AI-Driven Development with Global Partners

Dr. Tijani hosted Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, to discuss models for how governments and partners can work together to scale innovations that improve health outcomes, enhance education systems, and boost agricultural productivity. During the visit, both parties announced the signing of an agreement to establish the Nigerian AI Scaling Hub, backed by up to $7.5million in funding and expertise from the Foundation. This initiative will help accelerate the application of AI in critical sectors where impact matters most to everyday Nigerians. Present at the signing session was Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, who recently accepted to join our National AI Trust, bringing his wealth of experience to the next phase of our nation’s AI journey.
Later in the day, the Honourable Minister featured on AriseTV PrimeTime with host, Charles Aniagolu, to discuss his work in advancing digital transformation in Nigeria, and also highlighting the potential impact of our partnership with the Gates Foundation as we strengthen our capacity to ensure AI-driven solutions are developed responsibly and deployed equitably.

Wednesday, June 4 – Empowering Farmers and Young Innovators in Ogun State

He received Jeff Bullwinkel, VP & Deputy General Counsel, Corporate External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft EMEA, in his office to discuss areas of collaboration with the Ministry.
Soon after this meeting, the Honourable Minister travelled to Abeokuta, Ogun State, to launch the pilot scheme of AgriConnect, a transformative programme designed to digitally empower farmers through real-time access to agronomic services, weather insights, financial tools, and market intelligence. The first 1,000 farmers to benefit from the programme, will receive mobile-data enabled smart devices embedded with Huawei’s AI-powered tools and MTN-supported connectivity to facilitate smarter planting, better risk mitigation, and streamlined communication with government data centres. The event was attended by the Executive Governor of the State, H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun; Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Sen. Shuaib Afolabi Salisu; and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide.
Next was the commissioning of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Digital Innovation Park located in Abeokuta. The facility, which was declared open by H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun will to foster technological advancement, support startups, and provide young Nigerians with the resources needed to thrive in the global digital economy.
Following the commissioning, which had in attendance top dignitaries in Ogun State, including the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, the Honourable Minister accompanied H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun to Olumo Rock where he witnessed first-hand the renovation work being carried out by the Executive Governor. The ongoing facelift reflects Governor Abiodun’s clear vision to position Ogun State as a vibrant cultural and economic hub in Nigeria.

Friday, June 6 – Wishing Nigerians a Joyous Eid al-Adha

Dr. Tijani wished all Muslim brothers and sisters across Nigeria and beyond a happy Eid al-Adha Mubarak.

Posted on:

June 10, 2025