Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved the allocation of land for the establishment of a Digital Fabrication Centre by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), in a move aimed at strengthening technical skills, innovation and industrial development in the state.
Governor Mbah disclosed this when he received a delegation from the ITF, led by its Director-General, Afiz Ogun, at the Government House in Enugu.
The governor described the proposed centre as a strategic investment that aligns with his administration’s vision of positioning Enugu as a hub for technology, innovation and industrial growth.
Mbah stressed that sustainable economic development requires deliberate investment in human capital and emerging technologies, noting that his administration has prioritised technical education, entrepreneurship and innovation.
He said technical education has been made compulsory in the state’s basic education curriculum, with students exposed to digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics to prepare them for the changing demands of the global economy.
The governor also highlighted the establishment of smart schools equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern learning facilities, saying the initiative is designed to prepare young people for opportunities in the digital economy.
Mbah expressed confidence that the proposed ITF Digital Fabrication Centre would complement the state’s efforts to build a knowledge-driven economy, promote local manufacturing and create employment opportunities for young people.
Earlier, the ITF Director-General, Afiz Ogun, said the agency was implementing reforms aimed at upgrading the skills of Nigerian artisans to meet international standards.
Ogun said the ITF had strengthened its technical and vocational training programmes through initiatives such as the Skill-Up Artisans Programme, which focuses on training, certifying and licensing artisans.
He disclosed that the Fund had already established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, capable of producing more than 400 different products, and expressed the agency’s intention to replicate the facility in Enugu.
According to him, the centre would promote local manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported products and equip Nigerians with skills required to participate effectively in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Ogun also called for stronger collaboration between the ITF and private sector, noting that artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing are rapidly transforming industries globally.
The ITF delegation later visited one of the smart schools established by the Enugu State Government to inspect facilities designed to promote technology-driven learning and innovation.
