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Nigeria will host its inaugural RuralConnect Summit, an innovative seven-year program aimed at addressing the country’s ongoing digital gap and harnessing the economic opportunities of rural areas.
The inaugural edition of the Summit is set for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. It is themed: “Reevaluating Digital Connectivity to Unleash Rural Economic Opportunities.”
The RuralConnect Summit addresses the stark reality that more than 70% of Nigeria’s rural residents remain without digital access. Although urban areas like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt have developed internet infrastructure.
Official estimates show that over 20 million Nigerians lack access to modern connectivity. This number surpasses the population of many African countries.
The coordinators of the RuralConnect Summit highlighted that the current situation is unacceptable and requires action. It exposes a significant access disparity. Also, it underscores a considerable untapped potential for innovation, market growth, and inclusive development.
The Summit will bring together telecom providers, government regulators, policymakers and tech companies. Also expected to participate in the summit are financial institutions, donor agencies, civil society groups, community leaders, and grassroots representatives.
Together, these stakeholders will explore practical measures and feasible solutions to enhance digital access in rural Nigeria. They aim to close the widening digital divide.
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Dialogue Focusing on Rural Digital Infrastructure
Dialogue at the Summit focuses on essential foundations such as unique infrastructure deployment, policy changes, new financing strategies and digital education initiatives. They are also prioritizing agricultural tech integration, along with improved accessibility to healthcare and education.
Omobayo Azeez, the organiser and coordinator of the RuralConnect Summit, states that: “Digital transformation cannot be considered successful if millions of Nigerians in rural regions continue to be disconnected.” The Rural Connectivity Summit is more than a typical conference. It represents a movement to close the gap, foster opportunities, and guarantee that connectivity drives national development. We are establishing a seven-year plan that will persist in fostering actionable solutions until every community is included.
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He believes the initiative leverages Business Metrics Limited’s established history of influencing national discussions regarding Nigeria’s digital economy and telecom industry.
Previous programs have featured the inaugural national forum on 5G preparedness in 2022, promotion of a Dig-Once Policy to expedite fibre installation. There are also top-level summits focusing on indigenous content creation, and safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), among others.
The RuralConnect Summit seeks to create a lasting initiative that brings together government, private sector, and development partners. This is expected to bolster the campaign expand access to digital technologies and improve opportunities for rural communities across Nigeria.
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Consequently, the October gathering will mark the start of this multi-stakeholder initiative, setting objectives for progress in the coming years. This summit indicates the strength of Nigeria’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainable digital transformation.
