Not long ago, the digital space in Nigeria was seen as mere entertainment, full of viral memes, gossip blogs, and trending hashtags. But in recent years, it has evolved into a formidable force, shaping perceptions, directing public policy debates, and even influencing electoral outcomes. It is within this dynamic and evolving context that the Progressive Digital Media Summit is being convened, a landmark initiative driven by the Office of the Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media, in partnership with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The summit, according to Hon. Olusegun Dada, the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, is designed to move beyond rhetoric and foster a meaningful engagement between government, digital innovators, and the public.

Set to hold on the 1st and 2nd of August 2025, the summit is far more than a conference as envisioned. It is a bold conversation, and awakening about the powerful role that new media must play in the unfolding story of Nigeria’s national development. With the theme “Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development with a Focus on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” this gathering promises to be a watershed moment for digital stakeholders across the country and beyond.

This is not just another political gathering. Rather, it is a convening of minds of those who believe that digital technology, if properly harnessed, can rewrite the narrative of Nigeria’s governance and bring citizens closer to the heartbeat of public service. It is about progressives in thought, not just in party colours. This distinction is vital, especially in an era where Nigeria yearns for fresh ideas, daring innovation, and collaborative energy.

Over the last two years, under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria has witnessed a renewed emphasis on inclusion, investment in human capital, infrastructure expansion, economic recalibration, and the gradual retooling of public institutions. Yet, these efforts must be seen, heard, felt, and understood by the citizenry, and this is where new media becomes indispensable. It is no longer enough for policies to be announced through press briefings or published in newspapers. Today’s citizens live on their phones, form opinions on social platforms, and hold leaders accountable through real-time feedback loops. The government’s ability to communicate, listen, adjust, and respond depends heavily on how well it understands and leverages the digital space.

And so, this summit arrives at a crucial moment, a moment where Nigeria must decide how to position itself in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, data science, social algorithms, and decentralised conversations. It seeks to build bridges between the public sector and digital content creators, between tech-savvy youth and governance institutions, and between innovation-driven enterprises and policy makers.

Interestingly, although convened in collaboration with the APC, the summit’s ambition transcends party politics. It extends an open invitation to all who are genuinely interested in building Nigeria through meaningful digital engagements, whether they wear the party’s colours or not. It welcomes media entrepreneurs, civic tech enthusiasts, software developers, journalists, policy analysts, content creators, academics, and everyday digital citizens who believe that Nigeria deserves better and are willing to contribute their skills toward achieving it.

Indeed, the private sector has a critical role to play. For years, Nigerian tech firms, creative agencies, fintech innovators, and digital marketers have been global pacesetters. Their talents have lifted the Nigerian flag across continents. But now, their expertise is needed at home, not just to grow profits, but to help shape the nation. The summit calls on them, along with leaders of thought and development agencies, to align with this national effort. Their participation is not just desirable, it is essential.

This is a call to become co-architects of national development, to invest not only in broadband but in the broadening of democratic participation; not only in applications but in the application of digital tools for transparency, inclusion, and impact.

The digital space must not become a tool for misinformation, echo chambers, and tribal divisions. Rather, it must be reimagined as a space where hope is curated, truth is amplified, and policy is demystified. The Renewed Hope Agenda will not succeed in silos. It requires buy-in. And buy-in only comes when people feel they are part of the process, when the language of government becomes accessible, and when media serves as a bridge, not a barricade.

The Progressive Digital Media Summit therefore aims to set the tone for this new culture of engagement. It offers more than keynotes and panels, it offers clarity, strategy, collaboration, and purpose. It reminds us all that no matter how fast technology evolves, the goal remains the same: building a nation where every Nigerian can thrive, be heard, and be counted.

This initiative deserves our collective attention and support, not because it’s backed by government, but because it speaks to our shared future. As the digital generation continues to rise, Nigeria must rise with it, not as a passive observer but as an active innovator.

To all stakeholders, public and private, domestic and international, young and old, this is your cue. This is your moment. Let us gather, not just to talk, but to build. Let us move from tweets to transformation, from trends to tangible progress, and from echo to impact.

August 1st and 2nd are not just dates on a calendar. They are an invitation to history.