The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the Federal Government is leveraging technology to strengthen governance and protect vulnerable communities in Nigeria.
Yilwatda made the remarks in a communiqué signed by Chukwuemeka Okafor, General Conference Chair for the 2025 Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) Summit, held in Abuja.
The summit, themed “Connecting the Unconnected: Bridging Digital Frontiers,” brought together global technology leaders, telecom CEOs, international development institutions, and regulators to accelerate efforts toward universal broadband access across Africa.
The APC chairman explained that digital infrastructure such as the National Social Register (NSR), covering over 70 million individuals and integrated with the NIN and BVN databases, has reduced fraud and ensured social interventions reach their intended recipients.
He also highlighted the government’s innovative use of AI-driven predictive analytics and geospatial tools to forecast floods and trigger early humanitarian action.
“Engineering, data science, and digital governance are central to building a nation where no citizen is invisible,” Yilwatda said.
He stressed that within nine months, digital tools had verified the identities of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens, eliminated corruption in cash transfers through digital payments, and predicted disaster risks in historically affected communities.
Okafor noted that policymakers, engineers, and industry leaders at the summit agreed that digital technology, engineering innovation, and advanced data tools are now indispensable to tackling Nigeria’s development challenges.
He said the summit would also strengthen social protection systems, drive inclusive growth, and combat corruption in the country.
“These were the central messages from policymakers, engineers, and industry leaders at the 2025 IEEE Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) EMEA Summit,” Okafor said.
Earlier, Prof. Ifeyinwa Achumba, Chair of IEEE Nigeria Section, highlighted that millions remain excluded from Nigeria’s digital economy and urged stakeholders to take collective action to ensure no community is left behind.
“This summit is a call to move from ideas to action. Let us work together to build a digital future where no community is left behind,” she said.
Mr. Rex Mafiana, Managing Director of Flexip Group (FPG) Technologies and Solutions Ltd, warned that Africa’s connectivity expansion without parallel cybersecurity frameworks exposes citizens to fraud, data breaches, and online exploitation.
“Connectivity without cybersecurity turns access into exposure. Without trust, inclusion cannot exist,” Mafiana said, urging governments and businesses to adopt security-by-design and zero-trust principles as foundations for digital inclusion.
The summit received goodwill messages from the NCC, NITDA, and the USPF, underscoring national commitment to achieving universal broadband access.
