Nigeria is advancing efforts to deepen research-driven digital transformation as the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy moves to engage universities under a new national programme linked to Project BRIDGE.
Project BRIDGE is Nigeria’s planned 90,000-kilometre fibre network promoted by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and funding partners.
At the centre of the engagement is a ₦12 billion research initiative aimed at mobilising university-led consortia to produce policy-relevant insights that will directly inform Nigeria’s digital economy strategy.
Project BRIDGE mobilising university-led consortia research initiatives
The Ministry, working with the Federal Ministry of Education through the Project BRIDGE Implementation Unit, says it is hosting a three-day virtual open day to guide Nigerian universities and accredited research institutions on participation in the National Digital Economy Research Clusters initiative.
The sessions, scheduled across three dates in April, are designed to provide clarity on the objectives, structure and application requirements of the programme following the issuance of a Request for Expressions of Interest (EoI).
At the centre of the engagement is a ₦12 billion research initiative aimed at mobilising university-led consortia to produce policy-relevant insights that will directly inform Nigeria’s digital economy strategy.
According to the Ministry, the programme will bring together more than 200 researchers across multiple institutions, organised into thematic clusters addressing critical areas of the digital ecosystem. These include connectivity and meaningful access, digital public infrastructure, digital skills and human capital, jobs and livelihoods, trust and safety, as well as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
The Ministry says the virtual open day is positioned as a strategic onboarding platform, offering prospective applicants detailed guidance on consortium requirements, programme expectations, and submission processes. It also creates a direct engagement channel between participating institutions and the Project BRIDGE Implementation Unit, enabling clarification of technical and administrative questions ahead of application deadlines.
Participation is targeted at senior academic leadership, including vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors, rectors, and research directors, reflecting the government’s intent to anchor the initiative at the highest levels of institutional decision-making.
The research clusters programme represents a notable shift in Nigeria’s digital policy approach, with the government increasingly positioning local academic institutions as key drivers of innovation and problem-solving within the technology ecosystem. By funding structured research consortia, policymakers aim to generate locally grounded insights that can guide implementation of large-scale initiatives such as Project Bridge.
Project BRIDGE itself, Nigeria’s planned 90,000-kilometre fibre network, is expected to rely on such research outputs to optimise deployment strategies, improve connectivity outcomes, and align infrastructure investment with socio-economic priorities. The linkage between infrastructure rollout and research-backed policy signals a more integrated approach to digital development.
Officials say each research cluster will receive dedicated funding and operate within a results-driven framework, with outputs expected to include policy briefs, technical reports, and recommendations that feed directly into government decision-making processes.
The timeline for participation is tight, with the deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest set for April 13, underscoring the urgency of the government’s push to operationalise the initiative.
As Nigeria accelerates implementation of its digital economy agenda, the research clusters initiative, anchored by the Project BRIDGE Implementation Unit, highlights a growing emphasis on evidence-based policymaking, local innovation capacity, and stronger collaboration between government and academia in shaping the country’s digital future.
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