Enugu State has taken another major step in its ambition to become Africa’s leading digital innovation hub after signing a 15-year lease agreement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take over the Commission’s Digital Industrial Park and Digital Bridge Institute (Learning Centre) in the state.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday at the Government House, Enugu, will see the facilities transformed into the Enugu Talent City, a Knowledge-Based Outsourcing (KPO) Centre powered by the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) Hub, managed by Terragon, alongside a world-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute.
The initiative, coordinated by the Enugu MSME & Startup Agency, is expected to drive artificial intelligence, digital innovation, talent development, entrepreneurship and high-value job creation, while positioning Enugu as a destination for global technology investments.
Announcing the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu SME Center, Arinze Chilo-Offiah, described the agreement as another defining milestone in Governor Peter Mbah’s digital transformation agenda.
According to Offiah, the partnership with the NCC reinforces the administration’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven economy capable of equipping young people with globally competitive digital skills.
“Today marks another defining milestone in Enugu State’s digital transformation journey. These strategic national assets will be transformed into the Enugu Talent City, a Knowledge-Based Outsourcing Centre powered by the Nigerian Data Exchange Hub and the Enugu AI Institute, creating a world-class ecosystem for artificial intelligence, digital innovation, talent development, entrepreneurship and high-value job creation,” he said.
“This landmark initiative reinforces Enugu State’s commitment to building a knowledge-driven economy, attracting global investment and equipping our young people with the skills required to compete and lead in the digital age. The future is digital. The future is Enugu. Tomorrow is here.”
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy driven by innovation, productivity and private sector growth.
Maida said Governor Peter Mbah had demonstrated a deliberate commitment to transforming Enugu into a digital economy powerhouse through sustained investments in education, infrastructure and innovation.
“Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu’s ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise.
“These facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development. Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. Partnerships bring all these elements together.”
He also commended the Mbah administration’s Smart Green Schools initiative, describing it as a forward-looking investment that prepares young people for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation.
Governor Peter Mbah, in his remarks, thanked President Bola Tinubu for recognising the central role of the digital economy in achieving the administration’s economic targets and for supporting initiatives capable of unlocking innovation at the sub-national level.
The governor said Enugu was determined to ensure that its young people compete globally without leaving Nigeria, adding that the facilities would become catalysts for technology-driven job creation and digital exports.
“We believe that our brightest talents should not be exported in person. They should export their talents to the rest of the world from here, and that is why we see huge benefits in these assets in terms of job creation and opportunities for our young people.
“We are looking at transforming the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class AI Institute and the Digital Industrial Park into a continental certification centre for artificial intelligence. I am sure that a few years from now, we will all be proud of the decision we have taken today to activate these assets and make them productive.”
The lease agreement is expected to accelerate Enugu’s digital economy agenda by creating a vibrant ecosystem for technology startups, AI research, business process outsourcing, digital skills development and innovation, further positioning the state as one of Nigeria’s emerging technology destinations.
