Professor Ebunoluwa Oduwole, Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, commended the Federal Government’s flagship National Digital Economy Research Clusters, a key initiative under Project BRIDGE, describing it as a comprehensive and inclusive framework poised to drive the nation’s gig economy.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Prof. Oduwole praised the strategic vision behind the initiative, specifically lauding the leadership of the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

She described the initiative as an impactful research effort that appreciates the input of universities and research in achieving a successful digital economy.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that the success of the digital economy hinges on rigorous academic inquiry. She highlighted that the interdisciplinary collaborations and the inclusion of foreign researchers significantly enrich the clusters, while the built-in framework for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability ensures the project’s integrity.

Her remarks came as the Federal Government unveiled its plan to position Nigeria’s universities at the forefront of the digital transformation agenda, tasking academia with powering innovation through specialised research clusters aimed at generating homegrown solutions for global competitiveness.

Speaking at the briefing, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, explained that the initiative comprises six specialised research clusters focused on critical thematic areas: connectivity, access, and meaningful use; digital public infrastructure and digital government; digital skills, education, and human capital; digital economy, jobs, and livelihoods; trust, safety, consumer protection, and online harms; as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Dr. Tijani announced a funding commitment of N12 billion over the next three years to support the clusters. He detailed that each cluster will consist of up to six top professors, supported by three postdoctoral fellows and three PhD students each, creating a network of more than 200 researchers working over the next three years.

“This initiative will build local insight, evidence-based policy, and global research credibility for Nigeria,” Dr. Tijani said. He noted that beyond domestic collaboration, the clusters are structured to attract foreign academic partnerships and catalytic funding, with a dedicated consulting firm managing research outputs to maintain transparency and rigorous accountability.

Highlighting the economic stakes, the minister noted that Nigeria’s digital economy currently contributes nearly 20 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), emphasising that the research clusters would provide the evidence-based thinking required to reach the government’s target of a 21 per cent GDP contribution. He urged eligible Nigerian universities and accredited research institutions to immediately review the terms of reference and submit expressions of interest.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, added that the initiative aligns with the government’s mandate to shift universities away from purely theoretical teaching toward practical entrepreneurship and innovation.

He pointed to the thriving global market opportunity in the areas of digital skills, software development methodologies, proactive security, natural language processing, quantum computing, AI machine learning, and IT automation as evidence to substantiate his position.

The briefing was attended by several prominent Vice-Chancellors, including Prof. Ayodeji Agboola of Olabisi Onabanjo University and Prof. Simeon Bamire of Obafemi Awolowo University, alongside other members of the academic community and the press.