Abuja — The federal government has launched a $2 billion digital economy research clusters to boost research and innovation in education.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who spoke at the launch in Abuja, said the initiative would bring together universities, researchers and global partners to focus on key areas.

The initiative under Project BRIDGE (Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth), is financed by the Word Bank, and will engage university-led research consortia to deliver high-quality, policy-relevant research across six thematic clusters.

"The digital economy is a knowledge-driven sector. We cannot rely only on ideas developed elsewhere. We must generate our own insights rooted in our realities.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

"This is not just about output, but about building credibility, strengthening our research base, and contributing to global knowledge," Tijani said.

According to him, the areas include connectivity and meaningful access, digital public infrastructure and government services, skills and human capital, jobs and the digital economy, trust and consumer protection, as well as AI and emerging technologies.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said Nigerian universities needed to evolve beyond theoretical learning centres into institutions that nurture innovators, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers capable of competing globally.

"These clusters will help us build innovators and develop solutions that can transform lives in Nigeria and globally," Alausa said.