Ensuring Digital Equity in Smart City Initiatives: Participatory Models for Pro-Poor Urban Planning in Nigeria

Purpose: Nigeria's burgeoning smart city initiatives hold the promise of urban transformation, yet they face the critical challenge of digital inequity, potentially exacerbating existing socio-economic issues. This study analyses the specific challenges to ensuring digital equity within the context of Nigeria's smart city development. designed to foster inclusivity and equitable outcomes, as it contributes to the broader understanding of how to achieve inclusive and ethical digital governance in developing nations.                                         Design/Methodology/Approach: This research employs a mixed-methods approach, including a case study analysis of emerging smart city projects and the proposal of a novel Community-Driven Digital Inclusion Model (CD-DIM), to examine barriers to digital inclusion and evaluate the potential of participatory governance in the Nigerian context. Research Limitation: This research examines the specific challenges to achieving digital equity in the context of Nigeria's smart city development. Findings: The anticipated key findings underscore the need to prioritise community engagement, co-creation, and culturally relevant digital literacy programs to bridge the digital divide. The proposed CD-DIM offers a framework for fostering inclusive physical and digital forums, implementing shared decision-making mechanisms, and ensuring targeted outreach to marginalised communities. Practical Implication: This research contributes to the discourse on inclusive digital governance by providing a context-specific model for developing nations like Nigeria, emphasising practical strategies. Social Implication: The study underscores the urgency of adopting a development approach that is both technologically advanced and intrinsically socially inclusive. Originality and value: The study recommended a policy to build trust, bridge digital divides, and ensure the equitable distribution of the benefits of smart city development.