Nigeria to host first rural connectivity summit

Business Metrics Limited has announced the launch of the Rural Connectivity Summit (RuralConnect Summit), a major initiative aimed at closing Nigeria’s digital divide and boosting economic opportunities in rural areas.

The first edition of the summit will take place on October 22, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Its theme is “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potentials.”
Currently, cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt enjoy strong internet services, while more than 70 percent of rural Nigerians remain without digital access. Official data shows that over 20 million Nigerians have no form of modern connectivity a number larger than the population of several African countries.

The summit will bring together telecom operators, government agencies, policy makers, tech companies, banks, donor agencies, civil society groups, and community leaders.

The goal is to discuss real solutions for expanding internet access in rural areas and reducing the digital gap.

Discussions will focus on important areas such as new ways to roll out infrastructure, policy reforms, creative financing models, digital literacy, partnerships, and practical applications of technology in farming, healthcare, and education.

Convener and coordinator Omobayo Azeez said the summit is more than just another event. In his words:
“Digital transformation cannot be complete if millions of Nigerians in rural areas are left behind.

The Rural Connectivity Summit is a movement to create opportunities, bridge the divide, and make connectivity a driver of national growth. We are setting a seven-year agenda to keep working until no community is excluded.”

The initiative builds on Business Metrics Limited’s record of shaping national conversations around Nigeria’s digital economy.

In the past, the company has organized the first national forum on 5G readiness (2022), pushed for the Dig-Once Policy to speed up fibre deployment, and held high-level summits on local content development and information infrastructure protection.

The RuralConnect Summit is expected to become a lasting platform for cooperation between government, the private sector, and development partners. It aims to democratize digital access and transform rural communities.

The October meeting will kick-start this long-term agenda and set clear goals for measuring progress in the years ahead, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to inclusiveness and sustainable digital growth.