Use Digital Platforms to Advance Our Nation’s Progress, Tinubu Urges Content Creators at Digital Summit

At the 2025 Progressive Digital Summit held in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu delivered a clear and stirring message to Nigerian digital content creators: your work matters far beyond likes, shares, and views. Speaking to a packed hall of media influencers, tech innovators, and young entrepreneurs, Tinubu said digital media must serve as a bridge toward national unity, not a wedge that divides.

The summit, themed “Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development,” brought together leading voices in digital innovation. But it was Tinubu’s opening remarks that shaped the mood. “I urge you to continue using digital platforms to advance our nation’s progress,” the President said. “Build businesses that employ others. Create content that uplifts and unites. Use your influence to foster unity, not division.”

His words resonated because they spoke to a real-time national concern. In a country where social media often doubles as both a space for civic engagement and a battleground for disinformation, Tinubu’s message was both timely and urgent.

By tying the work of content creators to Nigeria’s development goals, the President reframed their role. He described digital media not as a trendy tool but as a central force in economic growth and social transformation. “You are not waiting for the future,” he added. “You are building it.”

This was more than flattery, it was an invitation to responsibility. As he spoke, the 2025 Progressive Digital Summit became more than an event. It became a call to action for Nigeria’s digital generation.

Also Read: Tinubu Urges Economic Industrialization in West Africa

Tinubu Challenges Youth to Turn Influence Into Purpose

President Tinubu didn’t just speak to content creators he challenged them. And he did it in a way that blended encouragement with accountability. “As your influence grows,” he said, “so must our collective sense of purpose and responsibility.” His message was clear: having a platform comes with power, but also duty.

In a world increasingly shaped by social media, this remark wasn’t just philosophical, it was strategic. Nigeria’s youth dominate the digital landscape. They build apps, trend hashtags, mobilize protests, and drive conversation. What they say, post, or ignore can influence national mood and policy. The 2025 Progressive Digital Summit underscored that power, but Tinubu was focused on what should come next.

He urged young creators to fact-check, to verify, and to rise above clickbait-driven sensationalism. “Your generation has recognised this moment,” he said. “You are using digital tools to innovate, educate, and demand accountability.”

This wasn’t lost on attendees. Segun Dada, the President’s Special Assistant on New Media and the summit’s convener, reminded the audience that digital media had evolved beyond personal messaging. “In less than a decade, we’ve gone from casual engagement to commanding influence,” he said.

Yet with influence comes risk. Dada spoke of data privacy concerns, echo chambers, and threats to social cohesion. These aren’t distant problems—they’re current realities. For Tinubu, the answer lies in balance: support innovation, but guard against misuse.

To this end, he pointed to government-backed efforts such as the National Digital Innovation Fund and tech-friendly startup policies. These are designed to ensure Nigeria’s youth have the infrastructure to thrive, not just survive online.

What made the 2025 Progressive Digital Summit different wasn’t the glam or guest list. It was the clarity of purpose. Tinubu didn’t talk tech just for tech’s sake. He spoke about the spirit behind it. He reminded the youth that their laptops and smartphones were more than gadgets they were tools of influence, possibly even nation-building.

For a President sometimes criticized for being distant from the digital generation, this was a moment of connection. And connection, in a divided world, might just be the first step to unity.