…Outlines digital initiatives for the state
…Mbah: the digital economy is the new oil
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has praised Enugu State’s swift shift towards a digital economy, asserting that the state is rapidly setting a standard for technology-driven societies under Governor Peter Mbah’s leadership.
Governor Mbah also reiterated his administration’s readiness to collaborate with the federal government on various projects and initiatives to reinforce the achievements of the past 22 months.
The Minister made his remarks during a working visit to the Enugu State Government House on Thursday.
“Enugu is quickly becoming a benchmark for how state governments can take decisive action to create thriving, inclusive, and technology-oriented societies.
“Governor Mbah’s extensive accomplishments in infrastructure, education, and economic reforms are praiseworthy. Most exciting for us at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is his deliberate focus on fostering a digital economy.
“A prime example is the Smart Green Schools, which were recently inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside the waiving of Right of Way fees for fibre networks. These initiatives clearly reflect the governor’s commitment to equipping young people with the tools and environments they need to succeed in the digital economy, embodying his ambitious vision to transform Enugu into a $30 billion economy within eight years,” Dr. Tijani stated.
He expressed the federal government’s eagerness to partner with the state on various initiatives to enhance the digital economy.
“First, through the Project 774 Connectivity, we will provide internet connectivity to all 17 local government secretariats in Enugu State, powered by Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT).
“Galaxy Backbone will collaborate with the state to establish a Digital Innovation Complex in Enugu, integrating a Tier III Data Centre; a co-working space for entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Enterprises, and tech startups; an incubation hub offering mentorship, funding access, and acceleration support; and a training centre for digital skills and workforce development,” he explained.
Dr. Tijani noted that Galaxy Backbone would supply internet connectivity to over 200 state-owned institutions, including Smart Green Schools, Primary Health Centres, the State Secretariat, and Government House.
He added that the Ministry would partner with the state through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to invest in infrastructure support, connecting currently unconnected rural areas.
He announced the federal government’s plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence Regional Centre for the South East at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and the launch of the South East Zonal Office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Enugu within the next two months, along with initiatives to train 100 residents in in-demand skills for cybersecurity and infrastructure defence.
“Finally, we commit to training 1,555,000 residents of Enugu State in essential digital skills through NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All initiative before 2027,” Dr. Tijani concluded.
In response, Governor Mbah reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to harnessing the full potential of the digital economy to diversify revenue streams and grow Enugu into a $30 billion economy.
In addition to the Smart Green Schools, which aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for tomorrow’s dynamic workforce, Mbah noted that the state has fully transitioned to an e-governance platform, a centralised portal that has enhanced efficiency and transparency, and ensured workflow automation and inter-agency integration.
“Our commitment to innovation is equally evident in our Command and Control Centre, where we have employed technology to enhance street and neighbourhood security through a round-the-clock surveillance system.
“We are in the process of integrating the Command and Control Centre with the NCC Emergency Communication Centre (ECC) to operationalise the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). This integration enables real-time emergency coordination via the national 112 emergency number, improving public safety and inter-agency communication.”
He added that the state is nearing the final stages of signing a 25-year facility lease with the NCC for the Digital Bridge Institute and Digital Industrial Park, which will be repurposed as an Academic and Innovation Hub, Outsourcing Facility, and Digital Training Centre.
