The Federal Government has launched a ₦12 billion research funding programme under Project BRIDGE, in a major push to strengthen data-driven policymaking and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, announced the initiative—known as the National Digital Economy Research Clusters—revealing that applications are now open to academic and research institutions nationwide.
The programme is part of Project BRIDGE, a flagship government effort aimed at deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic backbone infrastructure across the country to expand connectivity.
Tijani said the research clusters are designed to ensure that Nigeria’s growing digital investments translate into inclusive and measurable impact, stressing the importance of grounding policies in evidence rather than short-term political or market considerations.
He noted that the initiative seeks to close a critical gap where digital policies have historically been shaped without sufficient research, adding that embedding rigorous analysis into decision-making will help build stronger institutions and support long-term economic growth.
The research programme will focus on six priority areas: connectivity and access, digital public infrastructure and governance, digital skills and human capital, digital economy and jobs, trust and online safety, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Each cluster will be led by top Nigerian academics working alongside international partners, with over 200 researchers—including postdoctoral fellows and PhD candidates—expected to contribute policy-relevant insights to guide the country’s digital future.
Describing the initiative as a landmark step, Tijani said it is designed to outlive current administrations by laying a solid intellectual foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy.
He urged universities and research institutions to take advantage of the opportunity by submitting proposals, adding that further details will be unveiled at a forthcoming press briefing.
