Bosun Tijani: From tech darling to cabinet realist

…Foundations laid, delivery still chasing vision three years on

In March 2026, a Nigerian startup founder posted a message on social media that would have been almost unthinkable a year and a half earlier.

“I once said I no longer drag Bosun because he is fixing foundational problems,” she wrote.

The responses came quickly. Some welcomed the change in tone with cautious optimism. Others jokingly revived an old nickname, calling him ‘Farmer Bosun’, a reference to the slow, often unseen work of planting seeds whose results may only emerge years later.

The immediate trigger was President Bola Tinubu’s approval of Nigeria’s GIS-enabled alphanumeric digital postcode system, a reform that had lingered in policy discussions for nearly two decades without meaningful progress. For many in the technology ecosystem, it was evidence that at least some of the minister’s long-term projects were beginning to materialise.

Few ministers entered office carrying the weight of expectations that accompanied Bosun Tijani when he was appointed minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in August 2023.

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As co-founder of the renowned innovation hub, Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), Tijani was seen as one of the technology ecosystem’s own. He had spent years advocating policy reforms, supporting entrepreneurs, and openly criticising government inefficiency.

His support for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 election further complicated his eventual appointment by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Despite resistance from some political quarters during his confirmation process, Tijani secured the role and quickly became one of the administration’s most closely watched ministers.

Nearly three years later, his tenure presents a picture of ambitious vision, notable policy achievements and global recognition, but also one marked by delays in implementation and persistent structural challenges that continue to limit the sector’s progress.

At the centre of Tijani’s agenda has been the belief that Nigeria’s digital future depends on fixing foundational problems rather than pursuing quick wins.

Perhaps the most visible example is the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme, which aims to build a large pipeline of digital skills across the country. Supported by partners including MTN, the European Union and other organisations, the programme has trained thousands of young Nigerians and expanded access to technology education.

While supporters view it as a critical investment in human capital, critics argue that the focus must now shift from basic digital literacy to deeper, industry-ready technical expertise capable of competing globally.

His administration has also advanced the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act. The startup portal is operational, startup labelling has commenced, and several incentives are gradually being integrated into the broader regulatory framework. However, adoption at state level remains slower than many stakeholders had hoped, limiting the law’s nationwide impact.

Another milestone came with the approval of the digital postcode system. Though less glamorous than artificial intelligence or broadband expansion, industry observers see the initiative as potentially transformative for logistics, e-commerce, emergency response, urban planning and financial inclusion.

Artificial intelligence has become another defining pillar of Tijani’s tenure. Under his leadership, Nigeria developed the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched initiatives such as the National AI Strategy Framework and the AI Collective, and attracted collaboration from local and international experts. These efforts helped elevate Nigeria’s profile in global AI conversations and contributed to Tijani’s recognition among influential voices shaping the technology sector internationally.

The ministry has also pushed reforms around data protection and cybersecurity while securing significant partnerships and funding commitments from development institutions and global stakeholders. Critical National Information Infrastructure designation for key assets was welcomed as an important step towards safeguarding digital infrastructure that increasingly underpins economic activity.

Yet for all the progress on strategy and policy, implementation remains the defining challenge.

One of the administration’s flagship infrastructure programmes, Project BRIDGE, was designed to dramatically expand Nigeria’s fibre-optic network and improve connectivity nationwide. While funding arrangements advanced and planning milestones were achieved, actual deployment has progressed more slowly than initially projected. Several timelines have slipped, reinforcing concerns about the gap between policy ambition and execution.

Broadband expansion tells a similar story.

Nigeria fell short of the 70 percent broadband penetration target contained in the National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, ending the period at roughly 52 percent. The shortfall reflects challenges that extend far beyond the ministry itself, including right-of-way bottlenecks, multiple taxation, infrastructure vandalism, foreign exchange pressures, power shortages and uneven coordination across different levels of government.

Recognising public frustration, Tijani has repeatedly challenged telecommunications operators to improve service quality. He has argued that recent reforms have addressed many of the industry’s longstanding complaints and warned that persistent service failures could attract regulatory sanctions.

However, consumer groups insist that the experience of everyday Nigerians has not improved fast enough.

Among the most vocal critics is Deolu Ogunbanjo, the president of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS). While acknowledging certain policy interventions, including the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets, Ogunbanjo has consistently questioned whether ordinary consumers are seeing tangible benefits.

He has criticised telecom tariff increases, arguing that subscribers are being asked to pay more despite continued complaints about poor service quality.

According to him, many households, students and small businesses are struggling under broader economic pressures and cannot afford additional costs without corresponding improvements in network performance.

For Ogunbanjo, the disconnect between policy announcements and lived experience remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.

Industry operators present a more nuanced assessment.

Groups such as the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) generally acknowledge the ministry’s efforts to address longstanding structural issues. They recognise progress on initiatives linked to fibre infrastructure, digital innovation and investment attraction.

Nevertheless, they also point to significant obstacles that remain unresolved. Delays in securing right-of-way approvals, multiple taxes imposed by various government agencies, escalating energy costs, vandalism and regulatory complexities continue to constrain network expansion.

Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON chairman, has repeatedly described telecommunications as the infrastructure of infrastructures, arguing that broader economic development increasingly depends on the sector’s ability to function efficiently.

Within Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, reactions to Tijani’s performance remain deeply mixed.

Some founders who initially expressed disappointment have softened their stance, pointing to tangible progress in talent development, artificial intelligence policy, startup regulation and digital infrastructure planning. Others remain unconvinced, arguing that ordinary citizens judge governments by visible outcomes rather than policy frameworks.

On social media, opinions range from praise for laying essential groundwork to accusations that progress has been too slow and too difficult for the public to see. Yet even some critics acknowledge that building national digital infrastructure is rarely a quick process.

Internationally, however, Tijani’s profile has continued to rise.

His leadership has attracted partnerships with global institutions, strengthened Nigeria’s participation in international technology discussions and earned recognition in global technology circles.

His election as vice-chair of the International Telecommunication Union Council and inclusion in the TIME100 AI list have further elevated both his personal standing and Nigeria’s visibility in emerging technology governance.

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Three years into office, Bosun Tijani’s record reflects both the promise and limitations of reform in Nigeria.

Compared with many of his predecessors, he has brought stronger ecosystem credibility, deeper engagement with innovators and greater success in attracting international partnerships and investment commitments. He has prioritised talent development, institutional reforms and long-term digital infrastructure in ways that many observers did not expect.

At the same time, the realities of governing Nigeria have exposed the difficulties of translating vision into rapid, measurable outcomes. Missed deadlines, infrastructure delays and persistent service quality complaints continue to test public patience.

The verdict on Tijani may ultimately depend on whether the foundations currently being laid begin to produce visible improvements before political goodwill fades. Better connectivity, wider fibre deployment, improved service quality and deeper digital inclusion will likely be the metrics by which his tenure is eventually judged.

For now, cautious optimism is replacing outright scepticism in parts of the technology community. Whether that optimism endures will depend less on plans, strategies and announcements, and more on the speed and consistency of delivery in the year or years ahead.