Bosun Tijani is a Nigerian-British technology entrepreneur and public policy leader who has built a career around innovation, technology ecosystems and economic development. He is the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria, a position he assumed in August 2023.
Before entering government, Tijani was known for his work in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem as the co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), as well as his involvement in technology and innovation initiatives across Africa and Europe.
His career has combined entrepreneurship, technology development, innovation policy and ecosystem building, spanning international organisations, technology companies and public-sector leadership.
Early Life and Education
Olatunbosun Tijani was born on 20 July 1977 in Lagos State, Nigeria. He spent his formative years in Lagos before moving to Abeokuta for his secondary education.
In 1996, he moved to Jos, where he began his higher education at the University of Jos. He initially studied for a diploma in Computer Science before switching to Economics. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2002.
Tijani later pursued postgraduate education in the United Kingdom, earning an MSc in Information Systems and Management from Warwick Business School in 2007.
In 2023, he completed a PhD in Innovation and Economic Development at the University of Leicester’s School of Business.
His doctoral research examined how network-based approaches to innovation capacity could provide a contextually relevant framework for understanding the adoption and adaptation of innovation in developing countries, with particular attention to how African countries could organise their innovation ecosystems.
Tijani has also participated in international executive and leadership programmes, including the Innovation for Economic Development executive programme at Harvard Kennedy School in 2013 and the Draper Hills Fellowship at Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law in 2014.
Early Professional Career
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Tijani worked with international organisations involved in technology, trade and innovation.
At the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Geneva, he worked as a fellow researching trade development, with particular emphasis on enterprise management development.
During his time at the organisation, he led the development and deployment of a web-marketing and information services programme in Ghana between March and September 2006. The programme was subsequently extended to Uganda and Kenya, and later deployed in Ethiopia, South Africa and Tanzania.
The work exposed Tijani to the relationship between technology, enterprise development and economic growth across emerging markets.
Work With Hewlett-Packard
Tijani later worked with Hewlett-Packard, where he was involved in technology and learning infrastructure projects across Africa.
His work included managing the deployment of an Open and Distance Learning centre at the Africa Virtual University in Kenya.
He also completed the deployment of the HP, IEEE and University of Ibadan telecentre in Nigeria and initiated the deployment of an HP Micro-enterprise Acceleration Programme learning centre at Lagos Business School.
He also provided support for related deployments in Egypt and Morocco.
These projects further expanded his experience in using technology and digital infrastructure to support education, entrepreneurship and economic development.
European Innovation and Research
In 2007, Tijani joined Pera Innovation Network (PERA), where he served as European Innovation Manager.
At PERA, he coordinated innovation agencies across Europe and worked on programmes involving universities, research institutions and businesses.
His responsibilities included managing the Pan-European Research Network of Universities participating in the European Union’s Framework Programme 7.
He was also involved in the INNOTEX Project, a European Commission-funded initiative focused on developing a cross-cluster best-practice platform for entrepreneurial innovation in the technical textile sector across the United Kingdom, Spain, Estonia and Denmark.
The experience gave Tijani further exposure to innovation systems, research collaboration and the relationship between policy and entrepreneurship.
Building Co-Creation Hub
Tijani later became closely associated with Nigeria’s technology startup ecosystem through Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB).
As co-founder and CEO, he helped develop CcHUB as an innovation-focused organisation working with entrepreneurs, technology companies and other participants in the digital economy.
Under his leadership, CcHUB expanded its footprint beyond Nigeria.
In 2019, the organisation acquired iHub in Kenya, an established technology innovation centre. The same year, CcHUB launched its Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda.
The expansion reflected a broader effort to connect technology entrepreneurs and innovation communities across African markets.
From Entrepreneurship to Public Service
Tijani’s transition from technology entrepreneurship into government marked a new phase in his career.
On 16 August 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed him Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. He assumed office on 21 August 2023, succeeding Isa Ali Pantami.
The ministry brings together areas central to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, including communications, innovation and the digital economy.
Launching the 3 Million Technical Talent Programme
One of the initiatives launched under Tijani’s leadership is the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
Introduced in late 2023, the programme is a government initiative aimed at training three million Nigerians in technical skills.
The programme focuses on areas including software engineering, data science and animation, with the broader objective of developing a large pool of technical talent capable of participating in Nigeria’s digital economy and global technology markets.
The initiative represents a major shift in the government’s approach to developing technology skills at scale and strengthening Nigeria’s position within the global digital talent ecosystem.
Recognition and Leadership
Tijani’s work has received recognition through professional and leadership programmes.
Among his recognitions is the Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship, which forms part of a wider record of participation in international leadership, innovation and development programmes.
His career across technology, entrepreneurship, international development and public policy has also placed him in discussions about Africa’s innovation ecosystems and the role of technology in economic development.
A Career Across Technology, Innovation and Policy
Bosun Tijani’s career has moved across several interconnected areas.
His early work in trade development exposed him to the challenges facing businesses in emerging economies. His experience at Hewlett-Packard connected technology with education and enterprise development, while his work at Pera Innovation Network provided exposure to European innovation systems.
Through CcHUB, he became directly involved in Africa’s startup and technology ecosystem. His transition into government subsequently placed him in a position to influence national policy around communications, innovation, technology and the digital economy.
This combination of private-sector entrepreneurship, international development experience and public-sector leadership has shaped his approach to technology and innovation.
Bosun Tijani Today
Bosun Tijani serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, having moved from technology entrepreneurship into national public service.
His career reflects the growing intersection between technology, entrepreneurship, innovation policy and economic development in Africa.
From international development projects and European innovation programmes to building technology ecosystems through CcHUB and later overseeing Nigeria’s digital economy portfolio, Tijani’s professional journey has remained focused on the role of technology in expanding economic and social opportunities.