Enugu State Government has taken a major step towards strengthening technology, skills development and advanced manufacturing with plans to establish a state-of-the-art Digital Fabrication Centre in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The initiative is being pursued under the leadership of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah following strategic engagements between the state government and the Director-General/Chief Executive of the ITF, Dr. Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin.
As part of the partnership, Governor Mbah has approved the provision of land for the proposed centre, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to attracting strategic institutions and infrastructure capable of accelerating skills development, innovation, enterprise growth and industrialisation in the state.
The Digital Fabrication Centre is expected to provide young people, artisans, students, entrepreneurs and innovators with access to modern technologies and practical training in digital fabrication, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation, as well as computer-aided design and manufacturing.
It will also offer training in product design, prototyping and development, digital technologies and innovation, technical and vocational skills, artisan upskilling and certification, entrepreneurship and local manufacturing.
The centre is expected to serve as a platform for converting skills and innovative ideas into prototypes, products, businesses and sustainable employment opportunities.
The initiative is also designed to complement the state government’s investments in Smart Schools, robotics, mechatronics, technical and vocational education, digital skills and the broader technology and innovation ecosystem.
Through the Enugu MSME & Startup Agency, led by Arinze Chilo-Offiah, the state government said it would continue to facilitate strategic partnerships aimed at connecting residents and businesses to the skills, technology, infrastructure and opportunities required to compete in the emerging global economy.
The proposed facility is expected to further strengthen Enugu’s ambition to develop a knowledge- and technology-driven economy by providing an ecosystem where young people can learn, design, build and manufacture, while enabling artisans to upgrade their skills and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable products.
The state government said the broader objective is to build the human capital, enterprises and industrial capacity required to position Enugu as a competitive destination for technology, skills development and advanced manufacturing.
