By Stellamaris Ashinze

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Thursday inaugurated an Information Technology Community Centre in Akesan community, a Lagos suburb, to encourage inclusivity.

The Director-General, NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, said at the inauguration that the hub was designed to provide access to digital infrastructure and skills, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Inuwa said that NITDA had embarked on a mission to build digital innovation hubs across Nigeria, aimed at promoting economic growth and inclusivity.

“This initiative is part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative art manufacturing, and innovation.

“The agency has already established 222 smaller digital centres in schools, 18 community centres and three innovation hubs across the country.

“The agency’s target is to set up over 1,600 digital innovation hubs nationwide, ensuring every Nigerian has access to digital opportunities.

“NITDA’s initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusivity, enabling Nigerians from all walks of life to participate in the digital economy.

‘”With the target of establishing over 1,600 digital innovation hubs, the agency is poised to make a significant impact on the country’s economic growth and development,’’ the NITDA boss said.

Inuwa added that the IT community centre was designed to be sustainable, with community ownership and leadership playing a crucial role in its management.

According to him, NITDA provides guidelines and benchmarks for the centre, while the communities are responsible for its day-to-day operations.

The director-general said that the agency’s approach involved working closely with community leaders, elders, and youth to ensure the centres are well-managed and sustainable.

He said that this model had been successful in some communities, such as the Akesan community in Lagos, where a woman donated land for the project.

Also speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said that there was something powerful about being in Lagos.

Tijani said that the city had consistently stood at the forefront of innovation, enterprise, and ambition.

He noted that as Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, Lagos had not only nurtured some of the continent’s most successful companies, but had also raised generations of young people, who saw technology as a tool to build, solve and lead.

“My Ministry is committed to promoting inclusivity through capacity building initiatives like the 3MTT programme.

“We are also developing the National Digital Economy & e-Governance Bill, which is a robust legislative framework that will help guide our everyday engagement online.

“Our work at the Ministry also includes Project BRIDGE, our ambitious effort to improve interconnectivity by deploying 90,000km of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria,’’ he said.

According to Tijani, this is a critical imperative as the Ministry works towards making Nigeria a $1trillion economy powered by innovation, infrastructure, and inclusive growth.

‘’Today, we gather to commission the NITDA Community Centre in Lagos, a space that is more than just a building.

Tijani said that it was a strategic extension of national mission, a bridge between the Federal Government’s digital economy policies and the unmatched energy, ingenuity, and innovation that Lagos represented.

The minister said that the Centre aligned with the goals of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda which was to decentralise opportunity, expand access to digital skills, and make innovation part of Nigerians’ everyday experience.

According to him, it is also a reflection of one of the Ministry’s core missions to bring technology and innovation closer to the people.

Also speaking at the occasion, the land donor, Mrs Sikiratu Abdulaziz, expressed excitement over being able to impact the community through the land donation.

She appreciated the government for giving the community such opportunity to be digitally empowered.

Also, Mr Nurudeen Babatunde, Director, Infomind Technology, beneficiary of the IT Community centre, said that the centre would operate on two models, the free and paid models.

Babatunde said that income from the paid model would be used for the sustainability of the centre.

NAN reports that the IT community centre houses over 70 laptops and has free Internet subscription. ((NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare