General News
Developing Smart Cities to Boost Tourism Experience in Nigeria
By Adeniyi Ogunfowoke
You may question why one should discuss smart cities when there is arguably no smart state in Nigeria. You may say Lagos, but when you look at the indexes for identifying a smart city including transport and mobility, digitisation, living standard and governance, the centre of excellence has a long way to go.
To make the discussion probably unworthy, tourism in Nigeria is still at the analogue stage and it is seriously struggling and making small efforts to drive itself to the digital phase.
These minute strides are being made by the likes of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Tour Operators, Online Travel Agency like Jumia‘s Hotel and Flight Marketplace and others. There is so much to be done.
Nevertheless, it is important to talk about smart cities in relation to the tourism industry and the economy at large because we are in a tech world. With technology comes innovation and you know that innovation is dynamic. If you do not innovate, be prepared to become irrelevant.
Clearly, smart cities are the future and it is no surprise that countries like Singapore, Barcelona, London, San Francisco and Oslo are the top five smart cities in the world according to Market research firm Juniper Research. Therefore, it is important for Nigeria to march towards becoming one.
What is a Smart City? It is a city that has the ability to utilise data aggregated by intelligent sensors for streamlining city operations and guaranteeing public safety. Some of the benefits of a smart city include (a)More effective, data-driven decision-making (b) Enhanced citizen and government engagement (c) safer communities, improved transportation (d) Increased digital equity (e) New economic development opportunities and efficient public utilities.
How Nigeria Can Become a Smart Country?
Nigeria is yet to become a smart city. However, one must point out some of the gains the country has made over the years.
According to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the country has over 103 million internet users and many of them use smartphones. They use their internet savvy smartphones to book flights, hotels and also shop on Jumia. They will be preparing to do so as Black Friday knocks on the door.
Furthermore, tech companies like Google and Facebook are working assiduously to provide public internet for Nigerians. And in many of Nigeria’s higher institutions, relatively free and affordable internet is provided to enable students research and learn with ease. These are some of the features of a smart city.
This said, there is still a lot of work to be done. Becoming a smart city requires huge capital investment. But if the government and the private sector can partner via a Public and Private Partnership (PPP), being a smart city will become feasible in the next few years.
Some of the ways to become a smart city are: (1) Optimising intracity connectivity (2) Encouraging information sharing (3) Enabling real-time response (4) Driving sustainable initiative (5) Promoting security & economic growth (6) Effective waste management
The Role of Smart Cities in Boosting Tourism Experiences
Today’s travellers may no longer select where to visit based on the beauty, faux and fauna of the destination. Rather, they will take a holistic look at these destinations before they decide considering factors like security, internet provision and infrastructure availability. If any of these things are lacking, such destinations may not make their itinerary.
In the case of Nigeria, tourist and historical destinations are ‘begging’ to be revamped by the government. To exacerbate the situation, many of these destinations lack relevant infrastructure.
Therefore, one of the things the government must do alongside developing smart cities is to revamp these awesome destinations. If not, Nigeria will be losing out as it is currently doing. Visitors want a seamless and smooth trip.
For example, immediately they arrive at the airport, they are cleared by the immigration service, they do not worry about their security, they can use their smartphones to book rides and hotels and the roads are very good. Such a visitor will definitely have something positive to say and will always want to return.
Hence, if the government is really serious about boosting tourism experience for both local and international tourists, they must look at developing and creating smart cities.
Zainab Salami, executive director and co-founder, MSwitch Creative Hub, on Sunday revealed that over 53% of young Nigerians aged 15-24 are jobless, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic interventions to tackle the crisis.
She emphasized MSwitch’s commitment to empowering young creatives and digital professionals by equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed for sustainable careers.
Salami disclosed this in Abuja during the MSwitch launch of the ‘Remote Job Initiative,’ a groundbreaking program in partnership with AfriLabs, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global hub for digital excellence.
She emphasized that the initiative seeks to connect Nigerian talent with global employers, strengthening the country’s presence in the international digital economy.
She noted that the program aims to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by equipping youth with essential skills, access to global employers, and state-of-the-art co-working spaces.
Salami said: “Over 53% of young Nigerians aged 15-24 are either unemployed or underemployed. This program will create 2,000 remote job opportunities for young creatives and tech professionals, enabling them to earn, grow, and contribute to the nation’s economy without leaving the country.
“Beyond job placement, this initiative is designed to equip young professionals with the tools and environment needed for long-term success.
“To support this, we are investing in infrastructure and establishing fully equipped co-working spaces with 24/7 electricity, high-speed internet, cutting-edge technology, and industry-standard tools to maximize productivity.”
In his remarks, Ajibola Odukoya, chief operating officer, AfriLabs, described the organization’s expansive footprint across Africa and its dedication to capacity building.
He emphasized that beyond training, the next step is placing Africans in gainful employment.
Odukoya said: “AfriLabs is the largest network of innovation and technology hubs in Africa. We operate in 53 countries, across 225 cities, with 500 physical locations, and have about 80 million people in our ecosystem.
“We have partnered with international businesses and generated a pool of over 200,000 job vacancies targeted at Africans of all ages, as long as they qualify. To solve infrastructure challenges associated with remote work in Africa, we are using our innovation hubs, such as MSwitch in Abuja, as dedicated workstations with world-class facilities to support productivity,” Odukoya added.
Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has emphasized the crucial role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) in tackling national challenges and fostering economic growth.
Speaking at the launch of the Sankore Project, a collaborative initiative between Nigeria and Ghana, Nnaji highlighted how ST&I can drive economic diversification, job creation, climate resilience, improved public health, food security, and sustainable energy development.
“The Sankore Project promises to deliver innovative solutions that will significantly enhance economic growth, improve public service delivery, and raise living standards across our region,” Nnaji stated.
He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-point agenda, particularly in advancing technology, capacity building, and economic growth.
The project, supported by the UK’s International Development arm, is backed by an accountable grant delivery mechanism worth up to £1.9 million. It aims to strengthen ST&I systems in both Nigeria and Ghana through structured project delivery and rigorous monitoring of impacts.
Susan Mshana, Deputy Development Director at the British High Commission, explained that the funding, provided by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, will be executed in two work streams to reinforce science and technology partnerships between the UK, Nigeria, and Ghana.
Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, underscored the importance of collaboration in Africa’s development, urging Nigeria to take a leadership role in the continent’s innovation landscape.
“Nigeria is a sleeping giant that needs to wake up, so the rest of Africa can wake up. This initiative provides an opportunity to drive innovation, create jobs, and collectively overcome shared challenges”, Muhammed said.
He further stressed the need to commercialize research output, urging stakeholders to shift from skepticism to practical application.
As both nations forge ahead with the Sankore Project, stakeholders express optimism that the partnership will catalyze scientific breakthroughs and sustainable development in the region.
Nigeria has plans to launch a $40 million fund to support early-stage tech startups, aiming to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and reduce young companies’ reliance on private investors.
The fund will be equally financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), which manages the national sovereign wealth fund.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), confirmed the final agreement would be signed within the next month.
The initiative is part of Nigeria’s Startup Act, adopted in October 2022, which aims to create a favorable environment for startups through tax incentives and financial support.
The act established a 10 billion naira (approximately $8.6 million) annual fund to finance certified startups through seed funding, grants, or loans.
According to Disrupt Africa, Nigeria’s startup ecosystem attracted over $2 billion in investments between January 2015 and August 2022, positioning the country as Africa’s leader.
Companies like Flutterwave, Andela, and Opay achieved multi-billion-dollar valuations.
, fundraising dropped to $224 million in 2023, down from $531 million in 2022 and over $1 billion in 2021.
This decline highlights the need for government intervention to revitalize the tech ecosystem amid investor caution.
The new fund marks a significant step for Nigeria, which aims to foster local innovation.
Currently, 12,948 companies are registered as startups, benefiting from a three-year tax exemption. Low awareness of the law’s benefits has prompted the government to plan a nationwide information campaign.
By facilitating access to funding, the initiative could strengthen support for existing startups and stimulate new tech ventures, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a leading hub for digital innovation in Africa.
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