When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the nation’s future was imagined around agriculture, oil, and infrastructure. Today, 65 years later, another resource has taken centre stage: technology.
With smartphones in nearly every hand, fintech powering payments, AI fueling innovation, and startups exporting Nigerian ingenuity across Africa, a new narrative is emerging.
Technology is rewriting the post-independence story, one that may finally deliver the kind of transformation that political independence alone did not.
From Oil to Tech
At independence, Nigeria’s economy was largely agricultural. The discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956 shifted national priorities, creating decades of dependence on crude exports. But in the 21st century, the digital economy is now one of the fastest-growing sectors.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, ICT contributed 11.18% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2025. Nigeria is now one of Africa’s largest digital economies by sheer scale of users and startups.
Over 122 million Nigerians are online, making it one of the largest internet populations in the world. Fintech startups like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint have raised hundreds of millions of dollars, positioning the country as a continental innovation hub.
“We are witnessing a second kind of independence, which is digital independence,” Tijani Babajide, a tech policy expert, told Techparley. “Technology is now what oil was to Nigeria in the 1970s. Tech is now creating value at scale and enabling ordinary Nigerians to participate in the global economy.”
Technology as a Tool of Democratic Expression
Technology has not only transformed Nigeria’s economy but also the way Nigerians engage politically and socially. The #EndSARS protests of 2020 demonstrated how social media could amplify young voices and mobilize nationwide action.
WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram became modern-day town squares, allowing Nigerians to bypass traditional gatekeepers of power, while amplifying voices that had long been excluded from formal power.
Titi Adesanya, a tech analyst believes this digital awakening is central to Nigeria’s post-independence journey.
“Independence gave us sovereignty, but technology is giving us participation,” she told Techparley. “For the first time, young Nigerians can challenge power, organize movements, and demand better governance in real time. That’s a real shift in the meaning of citizenship.”
The 2021 ban on Twitter revealed, however, that digital freedoms remain fragile, with government regulation often colliding with innovation.
Startups and the New Face of Nigerian Enterprise
For many entrepreneurs, independence is no longer just political, it’s economic. Across fintech, agritech, and edtech, startups are helping young Nigerians imagine futures beyond oil rents or government jobs.
Prosper Nwosu, an agritech startup consultant argues that technology is enabling Nigeria to complete the “unfinished business” of independence.
“Today, I’m working with individuals building an AI-powered platform that connects farmers to markets, financing, and storage,” he explains. “This is what independence was supposed to mean, not just political freedom but the tools to create value ourselves.”
These ventures are increasingly global. Nigerian founders are building products not just for Lagos and Abuja, but for Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, and even diaspora communities in Europe and the U.S.
Yet, Nwosu admits challenges persist: unreliable power, patchy internet in rural areas, and limited venture capital outside Lagos remain major constraints.
Barriers to a Tech-Powered Independence
Despite optimism, experts warn that Nigeria risks reproducing old inequalities in new digital forms. Urban areas dominate digital adoption, while rural Nigeria still grapples with poor connectivity and digital literacy.
- Broadband penetration stands at around 45%, far from the government’s target of 70% by 2025.
- Millions remain excluded from digital banking despite Nigeria’s fintech boom.
- Education gaps mean many young people lack the skills needed to thrive in AI, coding, or data-driven jobs.
“The danger is that we build two Nigerias: one fully digital, globally connected, and another offline and excluded,” warns Adesanya.
Making Tech Nigeria’s True Independence Story
For technology to truly rewrite Nigeria’s post-independence story, experts argue, it must move beyond urban elites and startups. Infrastructure investment, policy stability, and digital education are critical.
“I belong to a bloc of tech players who believe that Nigeria can learn valuable lessons from India’s success story, where natives leading major tech companies in the US and other nations have driven economic growth, innovation, and global recognition for the country,” Ridwan Adelaja, Media Aide to the Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said.
Adelaja believes Nigeria is on the right path if it can work with private sectors while embedding technology into national planning.
“We must work together with the private sector players to create an enabling environment that supports entrepreneurship, invests in digital infrastructure, and promotes STEM education. By doing so, we can unlock the potential of our youthful population and rewrite Nigeria’s post-independence story through technology and innovation,” Adelaja said.
Nigeria at 65 stands at a historic crossroads. Political independence gave the country sovereignty. Oil wealth brought revenue. Technology, however, offers a bright future; a new independence.
Analysts noted that If the right choices are made, Nigeria could move from resource dependence to digital leadership, rewriting its post-independence story and creating empowerment for all.
