FG ready to renovate Kano Digital Innovation Park looted during EndBadGovernance protest–Minister
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, on Tuesday disclosed that the Federal Government will through IHS Towers an operator and developer of shared communications infrastructure refurbish the damaged Kano Digital Industrial Park.
The minister made the disclosure during an on-the-spot assessment of the facility’s damage level.
During the #EndBadGovernance protests miscreants broke into offices at the Kano DIP, carting away state-of-the-art equipment worth millions of Naira. The generator room of the centre was also set ablaze.
The Kano DIP is one of six located in each of the country’s geo-political zones. The six DIPs built by the the NCC are expected to provide Innovation Laboratories and Digital Fabrication Laboratories (Fablabs) for use by digital innovators and entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into products and prototypes.
The parks are also designed to provide broadband services and for techies to have access to constant power supply. The Kano centre designed to serve the North-West region was ready for commissioning with hopes that it would be pivotal to raising generations of young digital entrepreneurs.
The minister said, “It is a great honour to stand before you today on this significant occasion as we announce the support from IHS Towers to refurbish the Digital Innovation Park in Kano, which was unfortunately damaged in recent protests. This park is more than just a building, it is a symbol of Kano’s, and indeed Nigeria’s, aspirations to be at the forefront of the global digital economy.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to IHS for their unwavering commitment to rebuilding this critical hub of innovation. As we all know, the digital economy is reshaping industries across the globe. Technology is now the driving force of progress, enabling more efficient agriculture, transforming healthcare, expanding educational access, and revolutionising finance.”
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to IHS for their unwavering commitment to rebuilding this critical hub of innovation. As we all know, the digital economy is reshaping industries across the globe. Technology is now the driving force of progress, enabling more efficient agriculture, transforming healthcare, expanding educational access, and revolutionising finance.”
The minister stressed that Nigeria needed to be a key player in the transformation, not only for national development but as a contributor to global progress.
“While we invest in digital infrastructure, the real cornerstone of this transformation is talent. Around the world, there is a growing shortage of skilled digital professionals: software developers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts who are driving innovation and growth.
“Nigeria, with its youthful population, is uniquely positioned to fill this gap. Standing behind me are over 300 young people from Kano who are currently benefiting from the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme. This initiative, launched by the Federal Government, is training three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills, ensuring we are not just participants but leaders in the global technology space.
“I am proud to say that Kano State has the highest number of participants in this programme. These young people represent the future, not only of Nigeria but of the global digital workforce.”
