Technology experts have identified weak adoption, rather than a lack of innovation, as the biggest obstacle to the impact of emerging technologies in Nigeria.
The experts made this known in Abuja at the official launch of Abuja Tech Converge 3.0, an industry event themed “Beyond Buzzwords: Demystifying Emerging Tech for Real Impact,” organised in partnership with OCP Africa.
Speaking at the event, Akintunde Akinwande, Head of Digital at OCP Africa, said Nigeria does not struggle with building digital solutions but with getting people to actually use them. According to him, many developers are capable of creating relevant technologies, yet adoption remains low across key sectors of the economy.
Akinwande pointed to agriculture as a clear example, noting that while it is relatively easy to develop artificial intelligence tools to support farmers, reaching end users and encouraging sustained usage has been difficult.
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He revealed that Nigeria’s average fertiliser usage remains below 30 kilograms per hectare, far behind the global benchmark of about 300 kilograms per hectare in more advanced agricultural economies. He argued that closing this gap requires more than increased supply, stressing that demand must be built through awareness, education and productivity-focused solutions.
According to him, technology can play a critical role in helping farmers understand the value of improved productivity, but only if the solutions are adopted at scale.
Also speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of Thrive Agric, Uka Eje, said Abuja Tech Converge 3.0 was designed to shift conversations from hype to real-world impact. He explained that the event focuses on how technology can drive job creation and skills development, particularly among young Nigerians.
Eje noted that Thrive Agric places strong emphasis on training and deploying young people, adding that unemployment remains a major challenge not only in Nigeria but across Africa.
The event brought together stakeholders from across the technology and innovation ecosystem, reinforcing calls for policies and strategies that prioritise adoption, user education and practical application of emerging technologies.
