By Abiodun Lawal

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Innovation Park in Ogun.

Speaking during the inauguration, on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, noted that the innovation park mattered so deeply for economic growth.

Tijani said the park was a vital part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda, which placed digital innovation, youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth at the heart of Nigeria’s journey to a one trillion-dollar economy.

He stated that the ministry had set out to make Nigeria a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development and innovation.

According to the minister, the park would serve as a platform for youth empowerment and a place where skills meet opportunity.

“A launchpad for innovation where ideas become ventures and ventures become industries. A catalyst for community transformation, especially for the adjoining neighbourhoods.

“This can now evolve into one of Africa’s next great tech clusters. 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,” he said.

Tijani explained that the nation was building the foundation fibre optics, AI frameworks, tech talent pipelines and smart regulation, not just for Lagos or Abuja, but for every part of the country.

He, however, described Abeokuta as a city rich in history, culture and resilience with a growing network of academic institutions and eager minds waiting to be nurtured.

The minister commended Gov. Dapo Abiodun for investing wisely in roads, tourism, infrastructure and digital future.

“When we invest strategically; when we collaborate across tiers and when we centre innovation as a tool for inclusion, we do more than build structures; we build nations,” he said.

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, noted that the project marked progress in the delivery of a tangible achievement of President Tinubu’s administration.

He said that the park would serve as a vital component of the broader agenda to accelerate Information Communication Technology (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.

“In addition to what we have here in Abeokuta, the commission is currently implementing three other Digital Industrial Parks (DIP) in Kano, Borno and Enugu States.

“These 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,” he said.

In his remarks, Gov. Abiodun said the event marked another significant milestone in the journey of the state toward 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 said.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Yetunde Fatungase

By Jessica Dogo

The Gates Foundation has agreed to support the Federal Government with $7.5 million for Nigeria’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub, a new initiative.

This would accelerate the development and scale-up AI-driven solutions to improve lives and expand opportunities across key sectors such as health, agriculture, and education.

The Special Adviser of Media and Communications, Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Isime Esene, made this known in Abuja on Tuesday.

Esene said that the announcement was made during the Scaling Hub signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ministry and the foundation.

He said that the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, explained that Nigeria’s AI Scaling Hub was a multi-stakeholder initiative that would coordinate the scaling of mature AI solutions in the country.

He added, “The hub will convene government agencies, private sector tech companies, academia, and development partners to support large-scale implementation of mature AI innovations.

“The Gates Foundation is supporting the Nigeria Scaling Hub with up to $7.5 million commitment over a three-year period.

“By working with the Gates Foundation, we are strengthening our capacity to ensure that AI-driven solutions are developed responsibly and deployed equitably.

“The AI Scaling Hub will serve as a catalyst for Nigerian innovators by providing the resources, mentorship, and support necessary to translate ideas into impact.

“The AI Scaling Hub initiative will advance the government’s efforts to identify, develop, and scale high-impact Al solutions that address innovation in these key sectors, as well as position Nigeria as an exemplar for emerging technologies in Africa.”

The minister highlighted the progress made by the government of Nigeria in the adoption of AI, including the recent drafting of the National AI Strategy developed to ensure its responsible deployment.

“As AI technologies continue to evolve, the Nigeria AI Scaling Hub offers a model for how governments and partners can work together to scale innovations that improve health outcomes.

“It will also enhance education systems and boost agricultural productivity by ensuring digital transformation benefits all Nigerians,” he said.

On his part, Uche Amaonwu, Nigeria’s Country Director at the foundation, said that AI would transform how Nigeria addresses development challenges, unlocking new ways to improve lives and strengthen systems.

“We are proud to support the Nigeria AI Scaling Hub with the Government of Nigeria and Lagos Business School, investing in local talent and innovation to ensure the benefits of AI reach those who need them most,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State, says its new locally produced Three-Dimensional (3D) printing machine will revolutionise product packaging and enhance research commercialisation.

The Head of Department (HOD), Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Oluwafemi Tijani, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Tijani, an engineer, said the 3D printing machine, produced by the institution’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, would address students’ challenge of poor packaging after executing their research projects.

NAN reports that 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that creates physical objects from digital designs.

The HOD noted that many research projects designed by the institution’s students could compete favourably with imported gadgets if packaged properly.

According to him, the packaging components of finished research projects are either joined together with bolts and nuts or melted together with a soldering iron, making them unattractive.

This, he said, had denied the projects the deserved global market attention and commercialisation.

“All over the world, every technical and technology inclined institution or country is keying into the 3D printing technology to achieve seamless production and manufacturing process.

“The technology is an additive technology of producing items, systems and gadgets.

“Some phones, inverters, battery chargers, touch lights and other gadgets that we are importing are not rocket science because some of them can be produced locally.

“In engineering departments, many times, we have good projects that students embark on, but packaging has always been a major setback to their noble ideas.

“If a student designs and builds a robot, battery charger or good electrical system but with a rough or poor package, the efforts on such a project would not be properly appreciated or suitable for commercial purposes,” he said.

Tijani noted that the machine is capable of producing different neat and attractive packaging shapes.

He said the machine would serve as a source of motivation and support for students to produce tangible products that could be commercialised from school laboratories.

The HOD disclosed that the 3D printing machine was entirely produced at the polytechnic from locally sourced materials through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Project Fabrication Grant.

He commended the institution’s Rector, Dr Taofeek Abdul-Hameed, for facilitating the process of securing the grant and for ensuring the project’s successful execution.

Tijani expressed his determination to train students, transferring to them the machine’s production methodology for further development.

“Our primary goal is to see the product from our laboratories meet up with market standards, generate revenue, and empower students, making them job creators rather than job seekers,” he said.

He called on the government to do more in the area of research project funding, noting that his idea would not have come to reality if not for the fabrication grant from TETFund.

Tijani noted that the project’s success had translated into many benefits for the students, the institution, and himself.

“There are many research ideas that would have turned around Nigeria’s economic status positively and brought self-reliance to the nation technologically, but many of them died in the laboratories due to the lack of research funding.

“For Nigeria to develop and be technologically self-reliant, the academia, government and society at large have roles to play,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Moses Solanke

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Government is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to train 20 million young Nigerians on digital skills by 2030.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima disclosed this at a meeting with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The meeting was also attended by the UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan and the Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere.

Shettima said that Nigeria presents both a challenge and an opportunity with its rapidly growing population, currently estimated at over 230 million and an average age of 17.

He accepted to chair the board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform.

GenU 9JA is constituted to help young Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 24 transition from learning to earning through digital connectivity.

Shettima said: “It is an honour for me to serve as the Chairman of Generation Unlimited, GenU 9JA.

“This platform provides a vista of opportunities for our young people. Beyond rhetorics, if we want to survive and thrive, we must empower our youth through digital means.”

He said that GenU 9JA initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda of inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth empowerment.

Shettima pointed out that Nigeria is not seeking handouts but sustainable, equitable partnerships.

“We are not looking for charity. We want a mutually beneficial relationship; one based on respect and shared interests.

“This is why I’m very passionate about the digital initiative.

“Beyond leadership in our enlightened self-interest, if we want to live in this part of the world, we have to involve them, we have to empower them,” he said.

Shettima described the initiative as a beautiful programme that would enable Nigerian youths trade their skills in the global market.

“The digital space gives us the easiest window to get the youth engaged effortlessly.

“They can trade their skills in the global market. I know of a lot of young Nigerians who are working for global firms from the comfort of their homes,” he added.

Earlier, Fall noted that the GenU 9JA platform was central to addressing youth unemployment, educational inequality, and digital exclusion.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, youth-focused initiatives—skills, digital access, and employment—are critical. And GenU is helping to drive those priorities,” Fall said.

Also, Khan said that GenU 9JA is one of UNICEF’s most successful global youth empowerment programmes, saying Nigeria has been a model in this effort.

“We’ve seen incredible results from Nigeria. Few countries globally have recorded the level of youth impact that GenU 9JA has achieved,” she said.

Khan explained that the programme was built on three pillars; digital connectivity, pathways from learning to earning, and youth engagement and empowerment.

She said that all the pillars were designed to prepare Nigerian youths for current job markets.

On her part, Lafoucriere noted that since its launch in 2022, GenU 9JA has impacted over 10 million young people, with 1,500 job linkages already secured.

“To reach our target of 20 million youths by 2030, we must now strengthen coordination among partners and align even more closely with national policy,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz