Agriculture, IT, Renewable Energy, Others To Shape Nigeria In 2025

As Nigeria enters 2025, its economic trajectory will be heavily influenced by several key sectors that hold the potential to drive growth, create jobs, and improve living standards. While the nation continues to grapple with challenges such as insecurity, inflation, and infrastructural deficits, these sectors offer a glimpse of optimism for the future.
Baring his thoughts on the sectors to impact the Nigerian economy most in 2025, financial economist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr. Felix Echekoba, cited that the technology sector stands out as one of Nigeria’s most promising areas of development. He stated that with a burgeoning youth population and increasing digital penetration, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem has rapidly evolved into a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. “Startups in fintech, edtech, healthtech, and agritech are attracting significant investment, both locally and internationally. Companies like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Andela exemplify the potential of Nigerian tech firms to compete on the global stage. In 2025, the sector is expected to expand further as government policies and private investments continue to support digital infrastructure and innovation hubs,” he said.
Also speaking, the chief executive of AntHill Concepts Limited, and member of the Board of Economists, NATIONAL ECONOMY, Dr. Emeka Okengwu, noted that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, employing a large portion of the population and contributing significantly to GDP. “If we are looking at the sector that will support livelihood and security, the agriculture sector will be number one for me. The Marine and Blue economy will be second for me; the Mining and Steel sector will be third for me. And if you are talking about the agencies that will interface with these sectors it will be the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; the Marine and Blue economy, which takes care of our water bodies will come in. Of course, the Ministry of Steel and Solid Minerals will also be very essential.
“The Ministry of Regional Commission might come to be central in the sense that they should be responsible for aggregating that board and building our skills needs,” he said.
Okengwu noted that Nigeria has not been able to properly harness its potential blue resources and put to optimal use.
He said as the government and private stakeholders prioritise food security and export diversification, the sector is poised for transformation. He said advances in mechanisation, irrigation, and agro-processing, coupled with investments in value chain development, can enhance productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, adding that technology integration, such as the use of drones for monitoring and mobile apps for market access, will also play a critical role in modernising the sector by 2025.
On his part, speaking with NATIONAL ECONOMY, the chief executive of Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba, said Nigeria’s sectorial priority is neither agriculture nor manufacturing. He said transportation, especially rail, is capable of unlocking agriculture and manufacturing. He cited that since the Obasanjo administration there have been the building of roads across the country, which is wrong-headed as they collapse and fall into disrepair rapidly. He stressed that even the rails built by Nigeria’s colonial masters are still in use to date as they are durable. He said roads should lead to rail stations because Nigeria needs to connect by rail transportation.
Teriba stated that energy is another sector that has the potential to shape the Nigerian economy in 2025. He stressed that those are the two top sectoral priorities that are holding the Nigerian economy back and undermining the competitiveness of agriculture and manufacturing.
“When I say energy, nobody does rail right now without pipelines and power transmission under it. By rail development I mean an integrated rail development, which doesn’t take long to develop – one or two years to get rail tracks across a country the size of Nigeria. In 2023 India built 6,000 kilometers of additional rail tracks. So if we can build 6,000 kilometers of rail in Nigeria it will get us somewhere then we can begin to do increment thereafter. If we don’t fix the two sectors we are going nowhere.
“Another sector that rail development and energy will impact is real estate because anywhere that is linked to the port by rail the real estate will grow, markets will appreciate and there will be competition there. These sectors are capable of attracting large foreign direct investments comparable to what NLNG and GSM attracted. Those should be Nigeria’s sectorial priorities,” Teriba said.
It is noteworthy that the renewable energy sector is emerging as a vital component of Nigeria’s efforts to address its chronic energy deficit. With over 80 million Nigerians lacking access to reliable electricity, the demand for alternative energy sources is soaring. Solar power, in particular, is gaining traction, with projects like the Solar Power Naija initiative aiming to electrify millions of households. As international funding and domestic initiatives converge, renewable energy solutions are expected to play a pivotal role in closing the energy gap and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Also speaking, a social affairs commentator, Moses Mba, said the entertainment and creative industries, often referred to as “Nollywood to Afrobeats,” continue to capture global attention. He said Nigeria’s music, film, and fashion sectors are not only cultural powerhouses but also significant economic contributors. “Platforms such as Netflix and Spotify are increasingly collaborating with Nigerian creators, while local streaming services are scaling up operations.By 2025, the creative economy is likely to generate more revenue and global acclaim, fostering job creation and cultural exchange.
Development economist at Adeleke University, Professor Tayo Bello, had told NATIONAL ECONOMY that infrastructure development will remain a critical area shaping Nigeria’s future. He said Projects like the Lekki Deep Sea Port and ongoing upgrades to road networks and rail systems highlight the government’s focus on improving logistics and connectivity. “These initiatives are expected to reduce transportation costs, attract foreign investment, and enhance the ease of doing business. By addressing infrastructural bottlenecks, Nigeria can create an enabling environment for other sectors to thrive,” he said.
NATIONAL ECONOMY notes that Nigeria’s healthcare sector is undergoing gradual but crucial reforms that could redefine its role in Nigeria’s economic and social landscape by 2025. Investments in telemedicine, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare infrastructure are expected to improve access and quality. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for resilient health systems, prompting both public and private stakeholders to prioritise healthcare innovation and capacity-building.