The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has signed a 15-year lease agreement with the Enugu State Government, handing over its Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre to support the state’s digital economy and artificial intelligence development initiatives.
The agreement, signed at the Government House in Enugu, will see the facilities transformed into the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s vision of positioning the state as a leading technology and innovation hub.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy driven by innovation, productivity and private sector growth.
Maida said the facilities were established to promote digital skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, startup incubation and technology-driven enterprises, expressing confidence that the Enugu State Government would maximise their potential to create jobs and attract investment.
He also commended the state’s Smart Green Schools initiative, describing it as a forward-looking investment that prepares young people for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and digital innovation.
Governor Peter Mbah, in his remarks, applauded President Tinubu and the NCC for recognising the strategic role of states in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He said the Enugu Talent City and AI Institute would equip young people with globally relevant digital skills, enabling them to export technology services and innovations from Nigeria to the rest of the world.
The governor further disclosed plans to transform the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class Artificial Intelligence institute and establish the Digital Industrial Park as a continental AI certification centre in collaboration with international partners.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Arinze Chilo-Ofia, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the NCC for entrusting the facilities to the state, assuring that the assets would be fully optimised to achieve their intended objectives of innovation, skills development and economic growth.
