By Anayo Okoli

ENUGU – The Federal Government has pledged its full collaboration with the Enugu State Government to ensure the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF), scheduled for May 6–9, 2025, is a resounding success.

The Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made this commitment during a working visit to Enugu State on Thursday, where he also confirmed his personal attendance at the festival.

Additionally, Dr. Tijani promised to bring top professionals from the technology industry to the event and elevate it to national status. He assured that the festival would be expanded to attract tech professionals from across the country.

Commending the initiative, Dr. Tijani emphasized that the Enugu Tech Festival will strengthen collaboration between the state and federal governments in advancing technological innovation, digital infrastructure, and entrepreneurship in the region.

He praised Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for fostering innovation and technological development in Enugu, highlighting his achievements in infrastructure, education, and industry as key drivers of a thriving digital economy that will empower the state’s youth.

As part of broader efforts to transform Enugu’s technological landscape, Dr. Tijani announced several federal initiatives, including:

Project 774 Connectivity Initiative – A partnership with Galaxy Backbone and NIGCOMSAT to provide internet access to all 17 local government secretariats in the state. This initiative will connect over 200 state-owned institutions, including schools, healthcare centers, and government offices, ensuring seamless connectivity for efficient governance and service delivery.

Rural Connectivity Expansion – Through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), the federal government plans to extend internet access to underserved areas. This includes the installation of a new base station and the laying of 15 kilometers of fiber optic cable to provide high-speed internet.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regional Centre – A state-of-the-art AI research and development hub will be established at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to serve the South East region.

South East Zonal Office of NITDA – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will open a regional office in Enugu, serving as a digital learning and capacity-building center to enhance digital literacy and prepare residents for the global digital economy.

Dr. Tijani also announced a series of training programs aimed at building digital skills and cybersecurity capacity in the state:

Training of 100 Cybersecurity Professionals – To boost cybersecurity capabilities in Enugu as part of a nationwide effort.

Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative – A program to train over 1 million Enugu residents in essential digital skills by 2027. This initiative will prioritize artisans, market women, civil servants, and students, ensuring inclusive participation in the digital economy.

Computer Laboratories for Schools – One secondary school and one tertiary institution in Enugu will receive fully equipped computer labs to enhance digital learning.

In response, Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Tijani for his unwavering support and commitment to developing Enugu’s technological ecosystem.

Dr. Ezeh also commended Governor Peter Mbah for his visionary leadership in promoting technology-driven governance and fostering a thriving digital economy in the state.

With these ambitious projects and strong federal-state collaboration, the Enugu Tech Festival is set to become a major national platform for technological innovation and digital advancement in Nigeria.