UK deepens digital partnership with Nigeria to drive inclusive economic growth - ITREALMS

The United Kingdom government has announced a major expansion of its bilateral collaboration with Nigeria, launching a robust suite of technical and regulatory initiatives under the UK’s flagship Digital Access Programme to accelerate the country’s burgeoning digital economy, reports ITREALMS.

At the core of this deepened partnership is the introduction of the State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) initiative. The project was officially unveiled following a diplomatic visit by the UK Minister for Africa and International Development, Baroness Chapman MP.

The SPRIRET Project is strategically engineered to pilot foundational policy reforms across five target Nigerian states: Abia, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, and Niger.


The initiative focuses on systematically dismantling localized regulatory bottlenecks, streamlining right-of-way bottlenecks, and unlocking high-value private sector investments in broadband infrastructure, digital e-governance services, and emerging frontier technologies.


British officials confirmed that the project is designed as a scalable matrix, with plans to onboard additional states in subsequent iterations.

To ensure grassroots efficacy, SPRIRET will collaborate closely with the Initiative for Digital Inclusion to fortify state-level governance architectures, modernize digital systems, and build human capital. The overarching objective is to drive public service delivery efficiency, boost fiscal transparency, and expand citizen participation within the domestic digital marketplace.

Commenting on the deployment, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, emphasized the long-term economic alignment between both nations.

“The UK is proud to partner with Nigeria to drive an inclusive and innovative digital economy," Baxter stated. "Through initiatives like SPRIRET, we are supporting practical reforms that will unlock investment, strengthen institutions, and expand digital access, creating opportunities for businesses and citizens alike. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to harness technology for sustainable growth.”

Reacting to the development, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Enugu State, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, expressed deep appreciation to the British Deputy High Commission and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for co-designing the framework in direct alignment with state-level priorities.

“We are satisfied that the SPRIRET project addresses a critical gap at the level of policy, regulatory, and institutional reform; areas that are foundational to giving lasting direction and effectiveness to all current and future digital investments in the State," Onyia remarked. "We look forward to a productive and impactful partnership that will significantly advance Enugu State's vision of an inclusive digital economy.”

Beyond sub-national interventions, the UK intervention package includes critical structural modifications to Nigeria's federal tech agencies:

USPF Technical Assistance Facility: A dedicated facility will be deployed to comprehensively upgrade the operational performance of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). This intervention will optimize the USPF’s institutional delivery systems, ensuring that rural telephony and internet connectivity subsidies yield more inclusive, sustainable digital access outcomes for unserved communities.

The STRIDE Nigeria Project: Operating as the Safeguarding Trust, Digital Rights, Inclusion and Data Ethics initiative, this project is designed to strictly enforce responsible data governance. It will focus on driving compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), building a pipeline of certified data privacy professionals, and launching a nationwide “Own Your Data” public enlightenment campaign to equip businesses and citizens with secure digital navigation tools.

Together, this coordinated deployment underscores the UK's ongoing geopolitical commitment to assisting Nigeria in constructing a highly dynamic, safe, and resilient digital landscape capable of driving sovereign wealth and long-term industrial self-reliance.


By Remmy Nweke/DoP