The Chief Executive Officer of SeamlessHR, Dr Emmanuel Okeleji, has urged Nigerian policymakers and businesses to prioritise technology adoption as a tool for inclusive economic growth.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit (NESG) in Abuja, Okeleji stated that digital infrastructure could play a crucial role in connecting low-income workers to essential financial and social services. He made the remarks during a plenary session themed “Breaking Barriers: The Poverty Exit Strategy.”
The session featured HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano; Abi Jagun, Interim Deputy Director, Economic Opportunity at the Gates Foundation; and Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director, Policy Innovation Centre. The panel discussed practical ways to reduce poverty and expand access to opportunity across Nigeria.
Okeleji, a medical doctor, said SeamlessHR’s data on workforce patterns reveals the everyday struggles of Nigerian workers. “Technology offers an avenue to change that reality,” he said. “With the right digital systems, we can connect even the lowest-income earners to credit, healthcare, and pension services, helping them gain financial stability and access to social safety nets.”
He noted that broadening access to such services could help working families build security and improve their livelihoods, particularly among informal sector workers who make up a large share of Nigeria’s labour force.
Other panellists stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to tackle poverty. They also highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment, data-driven policymaking, and targeted social investment programmes in achieving sustainable growth.
Okeleji argued that inclusive economic progress requires not only government policies but also private innovation. “We need to build systems that allow people to participate fully in the economy,” he said.
The discussion reflected broader concerns about Nigeria’s uneven economic recovery and the limited reach of social programmes. Many experts at the summit called for better use of data and technology to ensure government interventions reach those most in need.
The Nigerian Economic Summit, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, remains the country’s main platform for dialogue between policymakers and private-sector leaders.