The federal government yesterday declared that Nigeria’s future prosperity, economic competitiveness and efficient public service delivery will depend largely on how effectively the country embraces and deploys digital technology.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, asserted this in Abuja while declaring open the Digital Transformation Summit 2026, describing digital innovation as a critical driver of economic growth, governance reform and national development.

In a similar development, the federal government also launched a free digital television platform aimed at expanding access to broadcasting services and stimulating growth in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.

The official unveiling took place in Abuja at the headquarters of the NIGCOMSAT, bringing together key stakeholders from across the broadcast, communications, advertising, and regulatory ecosystem.

Akume, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Galaxy Backbone Limited, urged stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and unlock the vast opportunities of the digital economy.

The summit, held as part of activities marking the 20th anniversary of Galaxy Backbone, brought together policymakers, technology experts, industry leaders and other stakeholders to chart pathways for advancing digital governance, innovation and service delivery across the country.

The SGF noted that over the past two decades, Galaxy Backbone has evolved into a strategic national asset, providing critical digital infrastructure, cloud services, connectivity, cybersecurity solutions and secure communication networks that support government operations nationwide.

Emphasising the centrality of technology to modern governance and economic advancement, Akume declared that the future belongs to nations that successfully harness digital innovation. According to him, “the future of governance will be digital. The future of economic competitiveness will be digital. The future of public service delivery will be digital.”

He explained that President Bola Tinubu’s digital transformation vision prioritises innovation, institutional efficiency, transparency, inclusion and sustainable economic growth, adding that realising the country’s digital ambitions requires more than policy declarations, and stressing that sustained progress would depend on resilient infrastructure, strategic partnerships, innovation and institutions capable of delivering services at scale.

“Powering Nigeria’s digital future requires more than ambition. It demands resilient infrastructure, innovative thinking, strong collaboration and institutions that can deliver results efficiently and sustainably,” Akume stated.

Presiding at the digital television platform launch, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the initiative marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s broadcast reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The minister explained that the new platform is designed as a hybrid broadcasting model, integrating digital terrestrial television, Direct-to-Home satellite services, and digital application-based platforms to widen access and improve content delivery nationwide.

Idris said the platform is expected to deliver wide-ranging economic benefits, particularly in job creation, content development, and expansion of Nigeria’s media value chain.

According to him, “a fully implemented digital switch-over ecosystem will create jobs, stimulate local manufacturing, expand audience reach, strengthen content production, increase advertising opportunities, and unlock new revenue streams for broadcasters and content creators.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, described the launch as a key milestone in Nigeria’s broader digital transformation strategy. He said, “The DSO is one of the first visible outcomes of our broader digital infrastructure strategy aimed at building a one-trillion-dollar economy.”

Tijani added that government plans include the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure and the expansion of national satellite capacity to strengthen digital connectivity.

On his part, the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Charles Ebuebu, said the platform represents a new communications architecture designed to expand access to information, education, and digital opportunities for Nigerians.

Similarly, the Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Jane Egerton-Idehen, said the satellite-driven system will bridge connectivity gaps and unlock new opportunities for content creators, investors, and technology providers across the country. She noted that the initiative positions Nigeria to strengthen its leadership in Africa’s digital broadcasting space.