The true measure of success will not be the quality of the buildings or equipment, but the number of skills developed, innovative ideas nurtured, businesses established and jobs created
By Moses Okorie
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially transferred the management of the Digital Industrial Park and the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) in Enugu State to the state government under a 15-year operational lease agreement.
The handover ceremony, held at the Government House in Enugu on Tuesday, marks a significant step in efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and expand technology-driven innovation across the country.
Speaking during the signing of the agreement, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the facilities are part of six Digital Industrial Parks established nationwide to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, digital skills development and human capital growth.
According to him, the centres are expected to support startups, attract investments, create employment opportunities and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) and other technology-enabled services.
Maida stressed that the facilities were built not merely as physical infrastructure but as platforms for nurturing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who will drive the country’s digital transformation.
“The true measure of success will not be the quality of the buildings or equipment, but the number of skills developed, innovative ideas nurtured, businesses established and jobs created,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the Enugu State Government possesses the vision and commitment required to maximise the facilities through sustained investments in education, innovation, digital infrastructure and technology.
The NCC boss noted that the partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to build a $1 trillion economy driven by innovation, productivity and private sector participation.
He also emphasised that achieving Nigeria’s digital aspirations would require sustained collaboration among the federal and state governments, academia, development partners and the private sector.
In his response, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah described the handover as a landmark achievement that would accelerate the state’s ambition of becoming Nigeria’s leading digital economy hub.
Mbah announced plans to transform the Digital Industrial Park into Enugu Talent City, a knowledge-driven outsourcing hub designed to provide Business Process Outsourcing and Knowledge Process Outsourcing services to global clients.
He explained that the initiative would enable talented young people in the state to secure international digital jobs and provide services to global companies without relocating abroad.
The governor also disclosed that the Digital Bridge Institute would be upgraded into a world-class Artificial Intelligence Institute and an AI certification centre serving not only Nigeria but the African continent.
“We see these facilities as catalysts for innovation, employment creation and economic transformation. They will strengthen our digital ecosystem and position Enugu as a leading technology destination in Nigeria,” Mbah said.
He noted that artificial intelligence is projected to contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, stressing the importance of equipping young Nigerians with relevant digital and AI skills to remain globally competitive.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on SMEs and Digital Economy, Mr. Arinze Chilo-Offia, described the handover as another milestone in the growing partnership between the NCC and the Enugu State Government.
He thanked the commission for entrusting the facilities to the state, saying the collaboration would significantly boost Enugu’s drive to become Nigeria’s preferred destination for digital innovation, technology investment and high-value employment.
Also speaking, NCC Non-Executive Commissioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, expressed confidence that the state government would effectively utilise the facilities to advance Nigeria’s digital economy.
He noted that both the Digital Industrial Park and the Digital Bridge Institute are strategically located along the Enugu-Ugwogo Expressway and the GRA Expressway, adding that the university-sized facilities are well positioned to serve as major centres for innovation, digital skills acquisition and economic growth.