The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled the Nigeria Tech Outlook Report 2026 and its accompanying Tech Outlook Dashboard, providing a national evidence base to guide digital economy policies, investments and innovation.
The report was formally launched by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, at the ongoing Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Abdullahi said the report was developed to present a unified account of Nigeria’s digital economy, establish a credible national baseline and provide a framework for measuring progress annually.
He explained that “the report examines key sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, commerce and trade, e-government, e-health, digital access, devices, skills, trust and inclusion. It also identifies investment opportunities, policy priorities and areas requiring further research.”
The research drew on 2,147 household interviews, 539 health facility interviews, 15 key informant interviews and 10 administrative records from relevant institutions.
According to the report, 97 of the 105 indicators in its assessment framework had some level of supporting evidence, with 63 fully supported, 34 partially supported and eight remaining data gaps.
On digital financial inclusion, the report revealed that 86.5 per cent of Nigerian adults hold financial accounts, while only 12 per cent accessed digital credit within the preceding 12 months.
It further showed that 11.3 per cent of adults have insurance coverage, while 13.1per cent reported personal experience of digital financial fraud.
In the area of digital health, 75.9 per cent of adults indicated willingness to use telemedicine if available, highlighting opportunities for investment and expansion of technology-enabled healthcare services.
The report also found that 40.6 per cent of adults personally use smartphones, while 77.5 per cent reported the ability to perform at least one of eight identified digital tasks.
However, online commercial activities and the adoption of digital public services remain relatively low, with only 6.6 percent of adults purchasing goods online within the previous three months and 17.9 per cent using government services online in the preceding 12 months.
Abdullahi noted that although digital access is expanding, “Nigeria must strengthen digital skills, trust, affordability and inclusion to translate connectivity into meaningful economic and social benefits.”
He said the “report would provide government institutions, innovators, investors, researchers and development partners with a shared evidence base for identifying opportunities, addressing challenges and coordinating interventions”.
The NITDA chief also highlighted the importance of research commercialisation, urging universities and research institutions to align their work with practical national needs and develop solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
On investment, Abdullahi identified payments, connectivity, digital devices, e-commerce, logistics, government technology and digital health, particularly telemedicine, as areas offering significant opportunities.
He stressed, however, that investment in the digital economy must be accompanied by improvements in electricity supply, skills development, consumer protection, trust and interoperability.
The NITDA Director-General said “the report should serve as a starting point for collective action, with its success ultimately measured by improved policies, stronger institutions, viable investments and better outcomes for Nigerians”.
The newly launched dashboard is expected to make the report’s findings more accessible, enabling stakeholders to engage with national digital economy data and monitor progress.
It will also allow citizens, innovators, researchers and development partners to submit feedback and receive tracking references, supporting continuous improvement of the report and its evidence base.
