Defining Inclusive Infrastructure
When most people think of digital infrastructure, they picture broadband cables and mobile towers. But in Nigeria’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) focuses on a key aspect of infrastructure: inclusivity. Inclusive infrastructure means access that is equitable across geography, social groups, and institutions. As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, NITDA is ensuring that no region or demographic is left behind.
Geographic Inclusion – Connecting All Nigerians
A major plank of SRAP 2.0 is geographic inclusivity: ensuring that citizens in rural Zamfara have the same access as those in Lagos or Abuja. The 774 Local Government Digital Service Space Programme is designed to embed digital infrastructure and services at the community level, bringing connectivity, training, and service delivery closer to the grassroots. Complementing this is the rollout of Digital Learning Centres and Innovation Hubs across Nigeria, expanding access to skills and entrepreneurial opportunities. By linking these community hubs with national platforms like the Nigeria Stack, NITDA aims to ensure interoperability and consistent digital service delivery nationwide. Together, these initiatives shrink the urban–rural divide and create a backbone for nationwide digital equity.
Social Inclusion – Access for Every Demographic
Digital infrastructure only becomes meaningful when people can both use it and afford it. That is why NITDA has tied inclusion to two priorities: digital literacy and affordability. The National Digital Literacy Framework sets ambitious targets of 70% literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030, creating the baseline skills Nigerians need to participate in the digital economy. To achieve this, initiatives such as Digital Literacy for All are embedding digital education into schools, workforce programmes, and even the informal sector, while the 3 Million Technical Talent scheme is equipping young Nigerians with advanced skills in AI, cloud, and software development to compete globally.
At the same time, NITDA recognises that skills alone are not enough if access remains out of reach. SRAP 2.0 emphasises reducing affordability barriers by creating community-based Digital Learning Centres and service hubs where citizens can connect at low or no cost, as well as encouraging device financing and partnerships that make smartphones and laptops more accessible. Social inclusion also means deliberate equity: at least 40% of participants in NITDA’s capacity development initiatives must be women, and accessibility features are being integrated for people with disabilities to ensure no one is excluded.
Institutional Inclusion – Embedding Digital in Governance and Business
Inclusivity also means ensuring that Nigeria’s core institutions, both public and private, are able to operate digitally. In government, NITDA is deploying the Nigeria Stack to help Ministries, Departments, and Agencies deliver services in a transparent and efficient way, while blockchain pilots are being introduced to reduce fraud and strengthen citizen trust in digital governance. The same approach extends to the private sector. By establishing Technology Development Zones and community innovation spaces, NITDA is giving small businesses and startups access to the kind of infrastructure that has traditionally been out of reach. These platforms not only encourage entrepreneurship but also ensure that digital transformation is not limited to large corporations. Together, they demonstrate how embedding digital tools in both governance and commerce is essential to building an inclusive digital economy.
Conclusion: Building an Inclusive Digital Economy
Inclusive infrastructure is not just about cables and towers—it’s about who has access, who can afford it, and whether it enables equal participation in governance and commerce. Through SRAP 2.0, NITDA is redefining infrastructure as something that must be geographically broad, socially equitable, and institutionally embedded. When fully implemented, initiatives like the 774 LG Digital Service Spaces, the Digital Literacy for All programme, and Nigeria Stack will ensure that every Nigerian—urban or rural, male or female, young or old—can take part in the country’s digital future. NITDA’s vision is clear: inclusivity must move from aspiration to measurable outcomes. With public and private collaboration, Nigeria has a chance not just to grow digitally, but to grow equitably.