Inuwa made the call while delivering a keynote address titled, “From Scientific Discovery to National Prosperity: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Convergent Innovation to Transform Nigeria,” at the 3rd International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (CCOPHS 2026) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Abisoye Olusola, the NITDA Director-General said there was a need to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application by transforming scientific research into viable solutions, enterprises and measurable socio-economic impact.

He challenged university leadership to develop an innovative 12-month action agenda that would move the conference from declarations to demonstrable impact through measurable, high-impact initiatives.

According to him, the proposed agenda should include identifying priority national challenges within 90 days, establishing multidisciplinary research teams and developing prototypes within six months.

He further called for researchers to test solutions with communities and industry partners within nine months and deliver validated innovations and measurable outcomes within 12 months.

Addressing students, Inuwa said academic qualifications should serve as a foundation for developing capabilities needed to thrive in an evolving digital economy.

He identified critical thinking, digital and artificial intelligence literacy, collaboration, creativity and problem-solving as essential skills for students.

The NITDA boss also stressed the importance of collaboration among government, academia, industry, investors and communities in translating scientific discoveries into practical innovations capable of addressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare, climate resilience and other critical sectors.

He said Nigerian universities must become engines of innovation by producing graduates who possess not only academic qualifications but also the problem-solving capabilities required to transform knowledge into solutions and scientific excellence into national prosperity.

The agency made this known at the grand finale of the NASENI InnovateNaija Awards 2026, held on Wednesday, October 7, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

InnovateNaija, organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), brought together innovators, investors, government officials and other stakeholders to celebrate innovation across the country. The programme attracted participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, culminating in the selection of 15 national finalists.

Representing NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Hajjiya Iklima Musa delivered a goodwill message, emphasising the importance of innovation, digital technology and strategic partnerships in Nigeria’s economic development.

She congratulated NASENI on the initiative, noting that the programme, launched at GITEX Nigeria 2025, had grown from a platform for identifying innovators into a national initiative recognising state champions, an FCT champion and 15 national finalists.

According to her, sustained support for innovators is essential to building a strong innovation ecosystem and enabling young Nigerians to develop solutions to local challenges while creating economic opportunities.

Musa highlighted NITDA’s support programmes, including the Nigeria Startup Act, under which 348 startups have received startup labels, giving them access to more than 31 incentives.

She also disclosed that the agency’s iHatch programme had supported more than 400 startups and 74 innovation hubs through mentorship, training and investment-readiness support.

Other initiatives mentioned included the iHatch Upskilling Programme and the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework, which are designed to strengthen the capacity of startups and innovation hubs.

The NITDA representative encouraged the national finalists and state champions to take advantage of opportunities available through the Startup Portal, startup labelling and the iHatch programme.

She further reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with NASENI and other stakeholders to expand support for innovators and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented at the event by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh. Other dignitaries included the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.

The NCC disclosed that Nigeria consumed about 1.6 million terabytes of data in July 2026, representing an increase of almost 47 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.

The figures were contained in a communiqué issued after the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Investment Forum 2026, held in Abuja from September 29 to 30.

Participants at the forum warned that the continued growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence would place additional demands on telecommunications networks, data centres and electricity supply.

The NCC said telecommunications subscriptions, currently estimated at about 195 million, could rise to approximately 350 million over the next 10 to 15 years, highlighting the need for greater investment in digital infrastructure.

Despite mobile broadband coverage reaching about 90 percent of the population, the forum noted that smartphone ownership remains relatively low at about 27 percent, while broadband penetration stands at 57.4 percent.

Stakeholders therefore called for increased investment in fibre infrastructure, reliable power supply and affordable internet-enabled devices to expand digital access beyond major urban centres.

The forum also identified inadequate middle-mile fibre infrastructure and high electricity costs as major challenges limiting the expansion of data centres and internet services to underserved areas.

Participants recommended stronger financing frameworks, policy consistency and faster implementation of the Federal Government’s planned 90,000-kilometre Project BRIDGE fibre backbone to improve national connectivity.

The NCC said it would continue working with stakeholders to advance the recommendations and investment pathways agreed at the forum.

The financial technology company introduced the app at the Nigeria Fintech Week 2026, as it expands its services beyond its traditional payment operations into the consumer and retail financial market.

The new app allows users to manage multiple bank accounts from participating financial institutions and carry out various financial transactions from a single platform.

Users can access services including money transfers, bill payments, airtime and data purchases, government and merchant payments, as well as other financial services.

The app also provides access to investment and lending services, while Remita said its platform is designed to make it easier for consumers to manage their financial activities without moving between different applications.

Speaking at the launch, Remita Managing Director, DeRemi Atanda, said the new application represents a major step in the company’s move into the consumer and retail space.

According to him, Remita is using its more than two decades of experience in digital payments to provide consumers with a wider range of financial services through one platform.

The company said the app will continue to expand through its network of banking and financial partners as it develops more services for consumers.

Tijani stated this in a post shared on Thursday while outlining the next steps following the launch of the national digital postcode system.

According to the minister, the launch is only the first step, noting that the system’s real impact would depend on how effectively it is integrated into everyday activities, business operations and public service delivery.

He said every postcode should translate into tangible benefits, including helping businesses reach customers, ensuring successful deliveries, improving community services and enabling emergency responders to locate people who need assistance.

Tijani said his office would work with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), government agencies, businesses and technology stakeholders to integrate the postcode system into services used by Nigerians.

He also called on developers and innovators to build products and services around the new national digital infrastructure.

The minister said an application programming interface (API) had been provided to enable organisations and developers to integrate the postcode system into their platforms.

Tijani outlined the process for organisations seeking API access, beginning with the creation of an organisation account and submission of Know Your Business (KYB) documentation.

He said organisations would then request API access based on their required level, receive staging tokens for development and testing, and undergo User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with NIPOST’s technical and compliance teams where necessary.

Successful organisations will subsequently receive production tokens and be able to deploy their integrations, according to the minister.

Tijani urged businesses, developers and innovators to register and begin exploring ways to use the digital postcode infrastructure to improve services across Nigeria.

The month-long campaign, themed “Together for a Safer Cyberspace,” is aimed at raising awareness about emerging cyber threats and promoting shared responsibility for protecting Nigeria’s digital environment.

NITDA said the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and automated systems has changed the nature of cyber threats, with emerging risks including AI-driven social engineering, deepfake impersonation, voice cloning and fraudulent QR-code attacks, also known as “quishing.”

The agency advised Nigerians to use strong and unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and regularly install software and security updates to protect their devices and online accounts.

NITDA also warned people against sharing sensitive information such as one-time passwords, PINs and online banking details. It advised users to verify suspicious links, attachments and unsolicited requests before responding to them.

The agency further cautioned Nigerians against uploading sensitive personal, financial or confidential business information to public artificial intelligence platforms or unfamiliar online services.

NITDA said people should also keep important personal and organisational data backed up offline and in the cloud to aid recovery in the event of ransomware attacks or other disruptions.

The agency said its computer emergency response structure would continue to provide cybersecurity awareness, incident-response support and guidance to citizens and organisations.

The Zero Rated Data Access to Approved Educational Platforms and Content Initiative is designed to reduce the cost of digital learning and enable eligible learners to use approved platforms for studying, research, online courses and other academic activities.

According to the NCC, a learner who receives the full 100MB daily allowance would have access to about 700MB of educational data each week, roughly 3GB every month and up to 36.5GB annually.

The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to equip Nigerians with digital skills and knowledge while advancing human capital development.

Maida said increased connectivity could help reduce disparities in access to educational resources by allowing students in different parts of Nigeria to connect with teachers, learning materials and other knowledge resources regardless of their location.

ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said telecommunications operators and other technology stakeholders had committed resources to the initiative, including connectivity, network capacity, devices and other support for the programme.

The NCC said the initiative is intended to support learners in accessing knowledge, preparing for examinations, conducting research, acquiring digital skills and participating in Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.

The licence authorises STN to provide services including voice, data, fixed and mobile communications, marking the company’s entry as an independent operator in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

The company said the licence marks a new phase in its development, following its earlier operations as a telephone call service under an umbrella structure.

Chief Executive Officer of STN, Oluwole Adetuyi, said the licence would provide the platform for the company’s expansion and its plans to contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.

According to the company, its plans include developing telecommunications infrastructure, expanding connectivity and helping to bridge the digital divide.

STN also said it would invest in skills development and training for Nigerian engineers, technicians and digital professionals, while working with local service providers and global technology partners.

The company said it also plans to create employment and business opportunities for Nigerians involved in areas such as distribution, retail and support services.

STN said it would announce strategic partnerships, infrastructure rollout plans and programmes for engaging investors and other stakeholders in the coming weeks as it prepares for commercial operations under the UASL.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced the launch in a statement, describing the initiative as an important foundation for connecting Nigerians, businesses and communities to more opportunities.

Tijani said an accurate postcode system would help businesses reach customers beyond their immediate neighbourhoods while making it easier for communities to connect with essential services.

“Every Nigerian deserves to be found. Every business deserves the chance to reach its customers. And every community deserves to be within reach of opportunity,” the minister said.

He highlighted the potential benefits of the system for small businesses, families and communities, particularly in areas such as delivery services and emergency response.

According to Tijani, a small business could use an accurate postcode to expand its delivery operations beyond its immediate location, while families could benefit from faster access to emergency assistance.

He also said the system could help government agencies reach communities with essential public services.

The minister linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy, saying the country needs foundational systems that enable more Nigerians to participate, trade and prosper.

“This is one of those foundations, and I am deeply excited about what we can build with it,” Tijani said.

In his Independence Day address, Tinubu said CREDICORP was giving working Nigerians access to consumer credit, enabling them to acquire vehicles, solar systems, digital devices and other essential assets without first having to save for years.

The President said the programme forms part of wider government efforts to support Nigerians as they move towards greater economic prosperity.