…commissions Digital Innovation Park in Ogun

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The federal government on Wednesday promised to make Nigeria a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development, and innovation”.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, gave the assurance in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while commissioning of Digital Innovation Park of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

Dr. Tijani said, “the digital park is a vital part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places digital innovation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth at the heart of Nigeria’s journey to a $1 trillion economy.

He said, “in our Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint, we’ve set out to make Nigeria a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development, and innovation”.

“We are building the foundations—fiber optics, AI frameworks, tech talent pipelines, and smart regulation—not just for Lagos or Abuja, but for every part of our country. Because shared prosperity must be built on shared access to opportunity”.

He noted that the digital innovation park symbolizes access, opportunity and a brighter future for the state and Nigeria at large.

Highlighting reasons for citing the project in Abeokuta, the Minister said, the potential in the city is immense; including richness in history, culture, and resilience, growing network of academic institutions, eager minds waiting to be nurtured, strategic proximity to Lagos, as well as government investment in roads, tourism, infrastructure and digital futures.

“Your Excellency, your vision for Ogun State as a destination for not just heritage tourism, but innovation and enterprise, is one we deeply align with at the federal level. This is how states help power the national agenda—through practical, forward-looking investments like this”.

Speaking on the importance of the park, Dr. Tijani said, it is a platform for youth empowerment—a place where skills meet opportunity, launchpad for innovation—where ideas become ventures, and ventures become industries, a catalyst for community transformation—especially for the adjoining neighborhoods, which can now evolve into one of Africa’s next great tech clusters.

He added that Abeokuta has everything it needs to compete, not just with Lagos, but with Kigali, Accra and Nairobi, stressing that “what we need now is to unlock and connect the dots”.

While challenging young people of the state to take the opportunity of the digital innovation park, the Minister said, “this is your time. You no longer have to leave to create impact. The world is beginning to recognize the genius in places once overlooked”.

He urged the the partners—academia, industry, and development institutions, to join hands with the federal government in turning the park into a living lab of Nigerian ingenuity.

Challenging the people in government, he said, “let this serve as a model. When we invest strategically, when we collaborate across tiers, and when we center innovation as a tool for inclusion, we do more than build structures, we build nations.

He added that the digital innovation park “is a reminder that when we combine vision with infrastructure, leadership with purpose, and people with opportunity, the result is a Nigeria that works—not just for some, but for all.

“May this park be a place where problems are solved, futures are built, and the dream of a thriving, inclusive digital economy becomes real for Abeokuta, for Ogun State, and for Nigeria”.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Waida, said the park is a vital component of the federal government broader agenda to accelerate ICT innovation, strengthen research capabilities, and drive the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.

He said, “technology is one of the most powerful drivers of economic transformation. For an emerging economy like ours, technology remains one of Nigeria’s greatest hopes for leapfrogging development. This is why we must create the right environment for it to thrive.

“These parks are equipped with computer labs, smart networking systems, collaborative workspaces, and multipurpose halls. They have been designed to include hands-on practice laboratories for training and skills development.

“In addition, we have also engaged skilled technical and managerial personnel to operate the centres, working alongside students enrolled in industrial training or part-time apprenticeship programs”, he said.

“Our goal is to establish a thriving ecosystem where cutting-edge ICT infrastructure supports the federal government’s efforts to make digital services accessible and inclusive across Nigeria”.

“These parks will provide a platform for digital innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into tangible products and prototypes, bringing broadband connectivity and reliable power supply—two critical enablers of innovation and digital advancement and economic development”.

“We are confident that this Digital Industrial Park will not only serve the people of Ogun State, but will also benefit the entire southwestern region in their pursuit of digital
advancement and economic development.”

In his remarks, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the event marks another significant milestone in the journey of Ogun State toward becoming a leading hub for technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Nigeria and indeed across Africa.

According to him, the park is not merely a physical structure; it is a beacon of progress, a catalyst for economic growth, and a testament to unwavering commitment to harnessing technology for the collective good of the people.

He said, “this momentous occasion signifies not just the unveiling of a facility, but the affirmation of our collective resolve to empower our youth, strengthen our economy and take bold strides into the digital future that beckons.

“In an era where technology drives global development and economic prosperity, the establishment of this Digital Innovation Park reflects our strong commitment to fostering innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

“This initiative, spearheaded by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), aligns seamlessly with the visionary Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu —a transformative agenda rooted in inclusive growth, digital transformation, job creation, and economic sustainability.”

He commended Tinubu for his consistent dedication to youth empowerment and technological advancement saying, “this center is a direct outcome of visionary leadership that sees the future and acts upon it.”

Abiodun also commended other stakeholders of the project, particularly the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, who he described as an exemplary role model, and a trailblazer in the global tech space.

The governor said that Ogun State, have long championed innovation, enterprise, and education.

“Our tech Hub with the largest tech hub foot print in Nigeria was one of our first 90 day milestone in August 2019. We have won several awards as the best state ICT bestowed on us by Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria.

“This new facility, the first and only one in Southern Nigeria, will serve as a nucleus of innovation, a center for skill development, and a springboard for digital entrepreneurship, not just for Ogun State but for the entire Southwest region and beyond.

“We fully recognize the pivotal role of digital innovation in driving economic growth, creating employment, and enhancing the quality of life.

“This is why our administration has made significant investments in digital infrastructure—ranging from the deployment of fiber optic connectivity and digital literacy programs to the establishment of innovation hubs across the state.”