Olatunbosun Tijani assumed the office of minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria on 16 August 2023. Appointed by President Bola Tinubu, he oversees national policy initiatives intended to scale technical infrastructure and build a domestic workforce capable of global competitiveness in the digital sector through large-scale training programs and government investment strategies.
Academic Background
Born in 1977 in Ogun State, Tijani completed his early education in Agege and Abeokuta. He pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Jos, graduating with a degree in Economics in 2002 after initially enrolling for a diploma in Computer Science. His graduate studies include an MSc in Information Systems and Management from Warwick Business School, completed in 2007. In 2023, he received a PhD in innovation and economic development from the University of Leicester, where his doctoral research analyzed innovation ecosystems in developing nations. He also attended executive programmes at the Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford University.
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Tijani began his career at the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, as a Fellow specializing in enterprise management. Between March and September 2006, he directed the launch of web-marketing services in Ghana, later expanding these operations into Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Tanzania. Following this period, he joined Hewlett Packard, where he managed the deployment of learning centers, including the ODel facility at Africa Virtual University in Kenya and the HP telecentre at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He also contributed to similar deployments at the Lagos Business School, as well as sites in Egypt and Morocco.
Management in Europe
In 2007, he moved to the Pera Innovation Network as the European Innovation Manager. His responsibilities involved coordinating innovation agencies across Europe, managing the Pan-European Research Network of Universities under Framework Programme 7, and overseeing the INNOTEX Project. This European Commission initiative aimed to develop best practices for entrepreneurial innovation within the technical textile sector, with participating sites across the United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia, and Denmark.
Policy and Ministerial Tenure
As the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani implemented the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program in late 2023. This policy focuses on training three million Nigerians in software engineering, data science, and animation to create a talent export pipeline. He maintains residence in Abuja, Nigeria, and Leicester, United Kingdom, with his wife, Moji Tijani, and their three children.
Fast facts
- Born: 1977, Ogun State, Nigeria
- Current Position: Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy
- Appointment Date: 16 August 2023
- PhD Institution: University of Leicester, 2023
- Languages: English, Yoruba
- Spouse: Moji Tijani
Questions readers ask
What is the primary objective of the 3MTT program?
The program aims to train three million Nigerians in technical skills such as animation, data science, and software engineering to develop a global tech talent export pipeline.
Where did Bosun Tijani conduct his doctoral research?
He completed his PhD at the School of Business, University of Leicester, focusing on the adoption and adaptation of innovation in developing countries.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Jos and Warwick Business School
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