From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has said that the newly inaugurated Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Digital Innovation Park in Abeokuta, Ogun State, will enhance Nigeria’s position as a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development, and innovation.
The Minister, who stated this at the official inauguration of the Digital Innovation Park on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, added that the Park will also serve as a platform for youth empowerment and a place where skills meet opportunity.
Tijani stated further that the project is a launchpad for innovation, where ideas transform into ventures and ventures become industries.
He noted that the Park is not an isolated project but a vital part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places digital innovation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth at the heart of Nigeria’s journey to a $1 trillion economy.
The Minister said: “In our Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint, we’ve set out to make Nigeria a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development, and innovation.
“We are building the foundations—fibre optics, AI frameworks, tech talent pipelines, and smart regulation—not just for Lagos or Abuja, but for every part of our country.
“Because shared prosperity must be built on shared access to opportunity. And that is exactly what this Digital Innovation Park symbolises.”
Tijani, however, explained that the Park, the first of its kind to be inaugurated in the country, was located in Abeokuta due to the city’s growing network of academic institutions, eager minds waiting to be nurtured, and its strategic proximity to Lagos.
“Abeokuta has everything it needs to compete—not just with Lagos, but with Kigali, Accra, and Nairobi. What we need now is to unlock and connect the dots. And, of course, a government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, that is investing wisely—in roads, tourism, infrastructure, and now, digital futures. This is how states help power the national agenda—through practical, forward-looking investments like this,” he submitted.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said that the newly completed Digital Industrial Park is a landmark and symbolic project of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
He described the Park as a vital component of the Commission’s broader agenda to accelerate ICT innovation, strengthen research capabilities, and drive the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“Technology today is one of the most powerful drivers of economic transformation. For an emerging economy like ours, it remains one of our greatest hopes for leapfrogging development. This is why we must create the right environment for it to thrive.
“The concept behind the Digital Industrial Park is rooted in our vision to promote innovation and digital entrepreneurship in the ICT sector, and to support research and development by transforming ideas into market-ready solutions,” he said.
While disclosing that the Commission is currently implementing three other Digital Industrial Parks in Kano, Borno, and Enugu States, Maida said the parks are equipped with computer labs, smart networking systems, collaborative workspaces, and multipurpose halls.
“They have been designed to include hands-on practice laboratories for training and skills development. In addition, we have also engaged skilled technical and managerial personnel to operate the centres, working alongside students enrolled in industrial training or part-time apprenticeship programmes.
“The Digital Industrial Parks are aligned with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, as well as the strategic vision of the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani. Our goal is to establish a thriving ecosystem where cutting-edge ICT infrastructure supports the Federal Government’s efforts to make digital services accessible and inclusive across Nigeria. These Parks will provide a platform for digital innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into tangible products and prototypes, bringing broadband connectivity and reliable power supply—two critical enablers of innovation and digital productivity—closer to innovators in Ogun State.
“We are confident that this Digital Industrial Park will not only serve the people of Ogun State, but will also benefit the entire southwestern region in their pursuit of digital advancement and economic development,” the NCC CEO submitted.
Governor Dapo Abiodun said that the event marked another significant milestone in the journey of the state towards becoming a leading hub for technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Nigeria.
“This Digital Innovation Park means progress, a catalyst for economic growth, and a testament to the state government’s commitment to harnessing technology for the collective good of the people,” he noted.