Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 will depend on its ability to translate digital innovation into increased productivity, industrial growth, investment and job creation, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has said.
NACCIMA Director-General, Engr. Olusola Obadimu, stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) 2026 in Abuja, where he challenged stakeholders to move beyond technology discussions and focus on delivering measurable economic outcomes.
He said Nigeria must deliberately connect digital technology to agriculture, manufacturing, mining, trade and services if the country is to achieve the economic target.
“We are no longer debating whether digital technology will transform our economy. It already is. The question is whether Nigeria will merely consume that transformation or deliberately connect it to productivity, industrialisation, jobs, exports and national growth,” he said.
Obadimu stressed that the $1 trillion ambition would not be achieved through government intervention alone but through productive businesses, industrial expansion and stronger private-sector participation.
“The road to a one-trillion-dollar economy runs through productivity. That economy will not be built in government offices. It will be built on farms, in factories, in laboratories and through businesses that create value every day,” he said.
He identified Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as critical to the country’s economic transformation, noting that digital policies must translate into improved business efficiency, competitiveness and access to markets.
He also highlighted the partnership between NACCIMA and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) as an important platform for connecting technological innovation with commercial opportunities.
The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, similarly called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, innovators and development partners to accelerate Nigeria’s digital economy.
He identified investment in digital infrastructure, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and strategic partnerships as essential to unlocking the country’s economic potential.
According to him, Nigeria has the talent and entrepreneurial capacity to become a leading digital economy, but these resources must be supported by deliberate policies and practical implementation.
A major highlight of the conference was the Builders Festival, an initiative designed to move Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem from generating ideas to developing solutions for real industry challenges.
Presentations by Glory Olamigoke and David Ogobe revealed that the initiative attracted more than 1,500 applications from innovators responding to 21 identified industry and institutional challenges. Thirty finalists were selected to develop prototypes for presentation to investors, industry leaders and judges.
The overall winner received a $50,000 equity-free grant, while other outstanding innovators secured grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000, alongside mentorship and access to business networks.
The initiative underscored the importance of providing startups and young innovators with funding, mentorship, institutional support and market access to transform promising ideas into commercially viable businesses.
Beyond innovation and enterprise development, stakeholders identified cybersecurity and digital trust as essential foundations for sustainable economic growth.
The Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General E.S. Mustapha, representing the Chief of Army Staff, General Waheed Shuaibu, warned that growing adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies was creating new cybersecurity and national security risks.
He called for increased investment in cybersecurity capacity, digital skills and collaboration to protect Nigeria’s expanding digital infrastructure.
Similarly, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, represented by Commissioner of Police Ayodele Oluyemi, highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital forensics and secure communications in modern policing.
The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, represented by Adaobi Nwankwo, also emphasised data privacy and responsible data governance as critical to building public confidence in digital services.
On inclusion, the Federal Character Commission, represented by Paul Apiade, urged stakeholders to ensure that digital transformation expanded economic opportunities for Nigerians irrespective of their geographical location, gender or social background.
The discussions at Digital Nigeria 2026 reinforced a central message: achieving the $1 trillion economic ambition requires more than technological adoption. It demands an ecosystem that connects innovation to industry, startups to markets, skills to employment, ideas to investment and policies to measurable results.
Ultimately, the success of the ambition will be determined by the businesses created, technologies commercialised, investments attracted, industries strengthened and jobs generated through Nigeria’s digital transformation.