‘Beyond Photo Ops, What Have You Done?’ Educare CEO Fires Shots At Bosun Tijani

Chief Executive Officer of Educare, Alex Onyia, has publicly criticised the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, questioning the tangible impact of his leadership and the benefits of ongoing digital sector reforms on ordinary Nigerians.

Onyia made the remarks in a post shared on social media platform X, where he challenged the minister to point to specific achievements that have directly improved the lives of citizens since assuming office.

The education advocate and technology entrepreneur argued that despite frequent announcements of partnerships, agreements, and government-led initiatives, many Nigerians have yet to experience meaningful improvements in areas such as internet affordability, digital access, and service delivery.

“What has been your impact in technology and innovation beyond signing MOUs and photo ops?” Onyia wrote in a post directed at the minister.

Concerns Over Rising Cost of Internet Access

A major part of Onyia’s criticism centred on the increasing cost of internet data in Nigeria, which he said has continued to place additional financial pressure on citizens, particularly students, entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small business owners who rely heavily on digital connectivity.

According to him, repeated assurances about strengthening the digital economy have not translated into lower costs or improved access to internet services for many Nigerians.

He argued that affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion and questioned whether existing policies are delivering the intended benefits to the wider population.

The criticism comes amid ongoing public discussions about the cost of telecommunications services and the challenges faced by consumers in accessing affordable and reliable internet connectivity.

Links Digital Policy to Security Challenges

Beyond concerns about internet costs, Onyia also referenced Nigeria’s security situation, suggesting that government officials overseeing technology and innovation should play a more visible role in addressing national challenges through digital solutions.

He pointed to recent incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren, teachers, and other citizens in different parts of the country, expressing concern over what he described as the absence of a strong public response or technology-driven interventions from the ministry.

According to him, the persistence of insecurity alongside increasing digital costs raises important questions about the overall effectiveness of government programmes aimed at advancing innovation and national development.

Questions Over Government Digital Initiatives

The Educare CEO further highlighted several government-backed digital projects, including infrastructure expansion programmes, strategic partnerships, and technology initiatives designed to improve connectivity and modernise public services.

While acknowledging that such programmes are frequently announced and promoted, he argued that many Nigerians remain unconvinced about their real-world impact.

According to Onyia, citizens are more interested in measurable outcomes that directly affect their daily lives than in announcements of agreements and partnerships.

He maintained that the success of digital economy policies should ultimately be judged by improvements in access, affordability, efficiency, and the quality of services available to the public.

Growing Debate Over Government Performance

The comments have added to a broader conversation about the performance of government officials responsible for driving Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

In recent months, public discourse has increasingly focused on whether investments in innovation, technology infrastructure, and digital services are producing the expected benefits for citizens and businesses.

Supporters of the ministry have pointed to ongoing reforms, investments in broadband expansion, startup support programmes, and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem as evidence of progress.

Critics, however, argue that many of these initiatives have yet to deliver noticeable improvements in everyday life, particularly in areas such as internet affordability, access to digital services, and economic opportunities.

As of the time of filing this report, Dr. Bosun Tijani had not publicly responded to Onyia’s comments.

The exchange is expected to further fuel discussions about accountability, policy implementation, and the future direction of Nigeria’s digital economy strategy as the government continues to pursue its technology-driven development agenda.