By Juliet Umeh
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has handed over its Digital Industrial Park, DIP, and Learning Centre in Enugu to the state government under a 15-year operational lease, with the facilities expected to drive digital skills development, startup growth and job creation in the state.
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, who announced the partnership during the formal handover ceremony at the Enugu State Government House, said the intervention was designed to move beyond the provision of physical infrastructure to creating opportunities for young people and businesses in the digital economy.
According to him, the facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development, with the capacity to support startups, attract investment and position Enugu as a destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services.
Maida said the Commission was particularly pleased to hand over the facilities to an administration that had demonstrated the commitment to activating them for productive use.
“These facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development. They were designed to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment, create jobs and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services,” he said.
He stressed that the value of the facilities would ultimately be determined by their impact on people and businesses, rather than the physical structures themselves.
“Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together,” Maida said.
The NCC boss said the partnership was expected to support Enugu State’s ambition of becoming a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and other technology-enabled enterprises.
He said the handover was also consistent with broader national efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure, improve digital literacy, promote innovation and develop indigenous digital content.
Maida linked the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy driven by productivity, innovation and private-sector growth.
He commended the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for what he described as purposeful leadership and investments in infrastructure, education and skills development.
The NCC chief executive specifically cited the state government’s plan to recruit about 6,500 teachers under its Smart Green Schools initiative, saying investment in human capital remained critical to deriving value from technology infrastructure.
“No investment delivers more enduring returns than investment in people,” he said.
According to Maida, infrastructure such as roads, buildings and broadband networks can only become productive when citizens possess the knowledge and skills required to use them effectively.
He noted that the need to build digital capacity had become more urgent as artificial intelligence, automation and other emerging technologies continued to reshape industries, workplaces and public-service delivery.
Maida said access to technology must therefore be matched with the capacity to deploy it productively, adding that digital learning facilities, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories were increasingly important to preparing young Nigerians for the changing world of work.
He also called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, academia and development partners to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“No single institution can build Nigeria’s digital future alone. The Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, academia and development partners all have complementary roles to play,” he said.
The facilities are expected to provide young people in Enugu with opportunities to acquire market-relevant digital skills, while giving entrepreneurs access to platforms through which they can develop ideas into viable businesses.
They are also expected to help local enterprises connect with markets and opportunities within Nigeria and internationally.
Maida thanked the Enugu State Government for embracing the partnership, assuring that the NCC would continue to support initiatives aimed at expanding digital opportunities, strengthening human capital and ensuring broader participation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The handover ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, among other officials.
