The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has begun validating a national framework that will establish Nigeria’s first standardised system for measuring how the country’s digital economy contributes to economic growth, employment, productivity and national development.
The framework, currently undergoing stakeholder validation in Abuja, is expected to provide the government with credible data and consistent metrics for assessing the impact of digital technologies, supporting evidence-based policymaking and guiding future investments in the sector, according to NITDA.
The validation workshop brought together representatives of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), government ministries and agencies, private sector organisations, researchers and development partners.
According to him, as Nigeria expands digital infrastructure, digital public services and technology-driven innovation, the country requires more sophisticated tools to evaluate their real economic and social impact.
National framework to track digital economy impact
Speaking on behalf of Kashifu Abdullahi, NITDA Director-General, Oladejo Olawumi, the agency’s Director of Special Duties, said the initiative marks an important step towards building a sustainable national system for evaluating the performance of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Reliable data and standardised metrics are critical to evidence-based policymaking and informed investment in the digital economy,” Abdullahi says.
According to him, as Nigeria expands digital infrastructure, digital public services and technology-driven innovation, the country requires more sophisticated tools to evaluate their real economic and social impact.
While existing indicators largely measure infrastructure deployment and technology adoption, the proposed framework seeks to assess broader development outcomes, including productivity, employment generation, financial inclusion, competitiveness and overall economic growth.
The framework is expected to provide policymakers with clearer insights into how investments in broadband, fintech, digital public services and innovation ecosystems are contributing to national development and where additional policy interventions may be required.
By introducing standardised measurement indicators, NITDA aims to enable government institutions to consistently monitor progress, benchmark Nigeria’s digital economy against international standards and improve policy coordination across the digital ecosystem.
Abdullahi commended members of the Technical Steering Committee and the research team responsible for developing the draft framework, describing their work as laying the foundation for a nationally accepted measurement system.
He urged stakeholders participating in the validation exercise to provide constructive recommendations that will strengthen the framework and ensure it reflects the realities and priorities of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
According to NITDA, the validation exercise forms part of its broader commitment to strengthening digital economy governance through data-driven decision-making.
Once finalised, the framework is expected to become a common national reference for government institutions, regulators, investors and development partners to assess the contribution of digital technologies to Nigeria’s economy, improve national benchmarking and guide future investment priorities.
The initiative aligns with NITDA’s wider strategy to ensure that digital economy policies are increasingly informed by credible evidence and measurable outcomes as Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation agenda, according to the government agency.
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