Insights from Nigeria’s DPI Journey
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) plays a vital role in enabling access to essential services and fostering economic growth across the globe. For Africa, DPI offers transformative potential, ensuring inclusive digital access and strengthening the region’s competitiveness in the global economy. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, stands at the forefront of this digital revolution. In a candid discussion, Joy Ajoluchipu, a public sector consultant working with the Nigerian government, shared insights on the nation’s progress, challenges, and the future of DPI.
The State of DPI in Nigeria: Progress and Foundational Gaps
When asked to describe DPI in one word, Joy leaned towards scoping, a term that reflects the current phase Nigeria and the African continent find themselves in. “There’s still a lot of foundational work that needs to be done,” she noted, emphasizing that although some critical systems are in place, much remains to be done to integrate and strengthen these structures across Africa.
Joy pointed out Nigeria’s remarkable progress, especially in identity management and payments systems. “We already have a national identity management system, an interbank settlement system, and a functional payments system,” she explained. Over 110 million Nigerians now possess a National Identity Number (NIN), a milestone that enhances the delivery of public and financial services. Additionally, the interbank payment system has been operational nationwide for over five years, supporting seamless financial transactions.
Key DPI Pillars in Nigeria: Identity, Payments, and Exchange
Nigeria has successfully implemented two of the three core pillars of DPI: identity and payments. However, the missing piece, according to Joy, is a data exchange system. “What we are missing at this moment is data exchange,” she stressed. This third pillar is crucial for enabling different digital systems to communicate effectively, facilitating smoother government services and fostering interoperability.
Joy elaborated on the impact of this gap: “There are government services that exist, but they are still siloed.” Without a robust data exchange infrastructure, the various digital services—while functional—remain fragmented. This lack of integration limits the efficiency of public services, creating bottlenecks for citizens and businesses alike.
Nigeria’s Competitiveness in Africa’s Digital Economy
Despite these challenges, Joy believes Nigeria is performing “pretty decently” in the DPI space. The country’s ability to roll out nationwide identity management and payment systems positions it as a leader in digital transformation on the continent. “By that metric, objectively, we’re doing pretty decently,” she said, underscoring that only a handful of African countries have achieved similar milestones.
Joy remains optimistic about the potential of a fully integrated system. “Once we have the exchange, it will be much easier to integrate all of the solutions,” she said. The exchange system will serve as the glue binding identity management, payments, and other government services, creating a seamless digital ecosystem. This integration will unlock new opportunities for innovation, improve service delivery, and foster economic growth.
Nigeria’s journey towards comprehensive DPI is well underway, but the road ahead requires further foundational work and coordination. With robust systems for identity and payments already in place, the focus now shifts to building the missing data exchange infrastructure. Once achieved, Nigeria will be better positioned to integrate digital services, offering citizens more accessible, efficient, and inclusive public services.
As Joy Ajoluchipu highlighted, Nigeria has made significant strides, but there is still much to do. The country’s ability to continue advancing DPI will not only enhance its digital competitiveness but also serve as a model for other African nations. With ongoing efforts to close the gaps and foster greater interoperability, Nigeria is poised to become a leader in Africa’s digital transformation journey.
