A leading provider of shared communications infrastructure services, IHS Nigeria, has submitted that for Nigeria to experience an astronomical economic growth, it must pay special attention to digital inclusion.
The Executive Vice President and chief executive of IHS Nigeria, Mr Mohamad Darwish, while delivering his keynote address at the recently-concluded 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja, emphasised that “digital infrastructure has become the backbone of national productivity.”
He highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, rural connectivity, and digital skills development, noting that bridging Nigeria’s digital divide requires robust public–private collaboration.
Mr Darwish stressed the need to reposition digital infrastructure, innovation, and talent as “core inputs for economic growth, not peripheral sectors,” while outlining IHS’s contributions; including over 16,000 towers nationwide and 15,000 kilometres of fibre network that power Nigeria’s connectivity backbone.
The event, which was attended by the country’s Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, was held from October 6 to 8, 2025, under theme The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030.
During the summit, Mr Shettima commended IHS for its commitment to corporate social responsibility and for her contributions to expanding broadband access and advancing economic inclusion through connectivity.
In one of the sessions, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, highlighted ongoing government efforts, including broadband expansion, AI research funding, and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, emphasizing the need for “policy execution with measurable impact.”
On his part, the founder of Future Africa, Mr Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, called for the establishment of digital economic zones to serve as innovation testbeds.