Nigeria is partnering with the World Bank to expand digital infrastructure and create high-quality digital jobs for its youth, according to Mr Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., following the institution’s Development Committee Meeting, Edun says Finance Ministers serving as the Bank’s Governors are agreeing to make job creation a cornerstone of global development efforts, a move aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The idea is to empower our young people with access to the internet, data, and fibre-optic networks,” Edun says, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance seen by Technology Times. “This digital infrastructure will enable them to offer services online, retain talent within our borders, and actively contribute to the digital economy.”

“Creating good quality jobs is essential to addressing poverty,” Edun says. “It is central to the President’s vision — stabilising the economy, encouraging private investment, and ensuring that our youth have opportunities at home, rather than seeking them abroad.”

The Minister says the Federal Government is targeting private capital mobilisation to boost productivity, attract investment, and accelerate job creation across diverse sectors.

“Creating good quality jobs is essential to addressing poverty,” Edun says. “It is central to the President’s vision — stabilising the economy, encouraging private investment, and ensuring that our youth have opportunities at home, rather than seeking them abroad.”

Highlighting the critical role of global institutions, Edun says multilateral banks like the World Bank must focus more efforts on supporting sustainable jobs and inclusive economic growth worldwide.

Backing Nigeria’s digital future

The World Bank has a history of supporting Nigeria’s digital ambitions. In August 2023, Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, announced that Nigeria secured a $500 million loan aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital sector.

Nigeria’s push to deepen digital access is gaining ground. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reports that broadband subscriptions hit 98.8 million as of January 2025, translating to a 45.61% penetration rate among the country’s population.

As Nigeria’s young and tech-savvy population continues to grow, Edun says strengthening the nation’s digital backbone is not just an economic imperative but a national priority to empower the next generation.