Alaafin urges investment in digital literacy to drive Nigeria’s economic growth

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, has called for urgent and sustained investment in digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, and inclusive tech hubs to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.

Speaking at the 11th Sigma Club Public Lecture on Thursday at the University of Ibadan’s Alumni Hall, the monarch underscored the crucial link between traditional knowledge and modern technology.

Long before the advent of computers, Oba Owoade noted, the Yoruba civilisation had already developed a sophisticated binary system embedded in the sacred corpus of Odu Ifá. “Ifá operates on a binary logic—structured in pairs called ese Ifá—and expressed through 256 permutations of odu, each symbolising distinct binary outcomes,” he explained.

“This is not a coincidence,” he continued. “It shows that indigenous knowledge systems are not outdated—they are simply framed in different paradigms. If we look closely, we’ll realise our ancestors were visionaries and innovators in their own right.”

Oba Owoade stressed that digital literacy is now a basic necessity, comparable to access to clean water, healthcare, and roads. “From Ibadan to Ilora, from urban centres to remote communities, every child must have the means to dream and build in the digital world,” he declared.

To that end, he called for robust investments in digital education, including teacher training, reliable internet access, and the establishment of innovation hubs. More than just consuming technology, he urged Nigerians to become creators of technology—developing homegrown solutions that are globally competitive yet locally relevant.

The monarch noted that the global digital revolution is transforming economies by creating new business models, job opportunities, and pathways to productivity and innovation.

Oba Owoade, while urging the Nigerian government to act as an enabler by expanding broadband access and strengthening digital ecosystems, also appealed to the private sector—particularly telecom giants like MTN—to forge partnerships that prioritise impact over profit and equip the youth with tools to shape their future.