Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has rolled out a bold $2 billion broadband expansion plan, betting it will supercharge GDP growth by 2% for every 10% leap in access and transform the country into Africa's tech export powerhouse.

Tijani laid out the vision Monday at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja, during a session on "Smart Growth, Digital Leap" hosted by IHS Towers. The initiative, blending 49% public funding with 51% private muscle, targets fiber-optic rollout to all 774 local governments in three years, classifying broadband as critical infrastructure to slash costs and lure investors. Backed by the World Bank, IFC and Africa Finance Corporation, it promises universal coverage, rural connectivity and a talent surge via the 3MTT program—training millions in AI, cloud and cybersecurity.

"Connectivity is not optional. It’s the foundation of productivity," Tijani declared, spotlighting the ICT sector's 15% GDP stake—one of sub-Saharan Africa's highest, per National Bureau of Statistics data. Yet with penetration stuck at 50%, he warned millions remain offline, stunting e-commerce, farming and education.

World Bank models back his math: A 10% access bump could add $25 billion yearly to agriculture alone, fueling exports and jobs.The hybrid model sidesteps past pitfalls, channeling funds into hubs like IHS's West Africa giant for youth training and global links—echoing India's and Brazil's tech leaps.

Tijani credited President Bola Tinubu's reforms for regulatory clarity, while IHS Nigeria CEO Mohamad Darwish hailed the ecosystem's vibrancy but flagged rural gaps and power woes. "We cannot build a prosperous Nigeria by 2030 without digital technology at its core," Darwish said, urging deeper public-private ties.

As Nigeria eyes a $1 trillion economy, Tijani's blueprint shifts from talk to terabytes, but skeptics eye execution amid funding crunches and infrastructure hurdles.