FG set to establish digital technology hubs in 200 communities

Federal Government has resolved to establish digital technology hubs in 200 rural communities across the six geopolitical zones in the country as part of its first implementation phase.nMr Tokoni Igoin, the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday. Igoin emphasised the transformative impact of technological advancements on the global economy, education, communication, and connectivity. He acknowledged that many rural communities in Nigeria remained constrained by limited access to essential digital infrastructure, hindering their economic and educational progress. He said that the ICT initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritised the development of the ICT sector and other critical areas of the Nigerian economy.
“The deployment of these digital hubs aims to accelerate business growth and diversification through the integration of modern technology,” he said. The Project Coordinator, Mr Charles Folayan, said that the digital hubs would function as state-of-the-art innovation centres. This, according to him, is to offer co-working spaces, incubation programs, mentorship, and workshops. According to him, these facilities are designed to empower start-ups, entrepreneurs, students, professionals, and individuals with disabilities. This, he said, is by providing access to resources that foster creativity, skill development, and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. He said the objective was to prepare rural youth for the demands of the 21st-century economy and equip  them with the skills and opportunities needed to contribute to economic diversification and local content development. “The initiative seeks to reduce unemployment, poverty, and social vices by fostering innovation, building capacity, and creating pathways for sustainable development,” he said.