The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has begun validating a national framework to measure the impact of digital technologies on Nigeria’s economy, aiming to track growth, identify gaps, and guide future policy and investment.
The framework is being reviewed through a stakeholder engagement and validation workshop for a national research study on the impact of digital technologies on Nigeria’s economy.
The workshop was held at the e-Government Training Centre of the Public Service Institute of Nigeria in Abuja. It brought together government institutions, regulators, researchers, academia, private-sector organisations, and development partners.
Why NITDA Is Developing the Framework
NITDA said Nigeria has recorded progress in areas including digital payments, broadband expansion, digital public services, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship.
However, the agency said the country lacks a harmonised national system for measuring the impact of these developments. This makes it harder to determine what is working, identify gaps, and decide where future interventions are needed. The research is expected to provide evidence on how digital technologies contribute to economic growth, employment, innovation, financial inclusion, public service delivery, and national competitiveness.
NITDA said the initiative also aligns with its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly its focus on strengthening technology research and data-driven policymaking.
What the Framework Will Measure
According to NITDA, the framework is built around three major areas:
Digital infrastructure and access
Digital capabilities and skills
Digital adoption and the enabling environment
These areas will be assessed across five sectors:
Financial services
Government services
E-commerce and digital trade
Telecommunications
E-health and digital health
The technical committee has proposed 81 core indicators that will be used to assess how digital technologies are affecting Nigerian society and businesses. Researchers from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones worked with the National Bureau of Statistics to develop the proposed measurement framework.
What Happens Next
The current validation process is being used to test the proposed indicators, review sector-specific methods, and address data gaps before nationwide data collection begins. The National Bureau of Statistics has also committed to supporting the initiative through technical collaboration and the production of reliable statistics.
For businesses, startups, technology workers, and policymakers, the framework could eventually provide a clearer picture of where Nigeria’s digital economy is growing and where investment, skills, infrastructure, or policy support are still needed.
The immediate focus, however, is to finalise the framework before the national data collection phase begins.
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