By Juliet Umeh
For millions of Nigerians living in villages without reliable phone service or internet, the dream of joining the digital world remains far out of reach.
Official figures show that more than 20 million Nigerians have no form of modern connectivity, a number larger than the population of several African countries.
It is this reality that inspired the launch of the Rural Connectivity Summit (RuralConnect Summit), a bold seven-year initiative designed to bridge the gap between connected cities like Lagos and Abuja, and rural communities where digital exclusion is still the norm.
The maiden edition of the summit will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme: “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potentials.”
Omobayo Azeez, Convener and Partnership Coordinator of RuralConnect Summit, said the event is not just another industry gathering but a call to action.
He said: “Digital transformation cannot be said to be successful if millions of Nigerians in rural areas remain cut off.
“The Rural Connectivity Summit is a movement to bridge the divide, create opportunities, and ensure that connectivity becomes a catalyst for national growth. We are setting a seven-year agenda to deliver practical solutions until no community is left behind.”
Organisers noted that while urban centres benefit from advanced internet infrastructure, more than 70 percent of rural Nigerians remain digitally excluded, shutting them out of opportunities in modern farming, online education, digital payments, and even telemedicine.
The summit will gather telecom operators, regulators, policymakers, technology firms, financial institutions, donor agencies, civil society groups, and community leaders to develop practical roadmaps for rural access. Discussions will centre on unconventional infrastructure rollouts, innovative financing, digital literacy programmes, and real-world applications in agriculture, healthcare, and education.
Business Metrics Limited, organisers of the initiative, has a track record of sparking national conversations around Nigeria’s digital economy, from the first national forum on 5G readiness in 2022 to policy advocacy on fibre deployment and cybersecurity.
With the RuralConnect Summit, the company aims to leave a legacy platform where government, private sector, and development partners work hand-in-hand to democratise technology and transform the fortunes of rural communities across Nigeria.
The October gathering will not only launch this journey but also set benchmarks for measurable progress, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.
