The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to establish over 1,600 ICT centres across Nigeria in a bold move to foster digital inclusion and empower underserved communities. The announcement was made by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, during the commissioning of a new community ICT centre in Akesan, Lagos, on Thursday.
222 ICT Facilities Already Built Nationwide
Inuwa revealed that NITDA has constructed 222 ICT facilities within the past two years, which fell into three categories:
- Equipping schools with ICT tools
- Building community ICT centres
- Establishing ICT hubs
Of these, 18 community centres and three ICT hubs have been completed.
“Our target is to build more than 1,600 across the country,” said Inuwa. “We want every community, every Nigerian, to be part of this national prosperity and inclusivity when it comes to the digital economy.”
Supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises economic diversification and inclusivity. Inuwa noted that one of the President’s seven priority areas focuses on driving transformation through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, and innovation.
“We are executing the President’s directive to build digital infrastructure in underserved communities,” Inuwa added, highlighting the need for equal access to technology regardless of social or economic background.
Community ICT Centre to Bridge Digital Policy and Innovation in Lagos
The event also featured remarks from the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, represented by Johnson Bareyei, Director of e-Government.
“This community centre is a key extension of the government’s mission to bridge federal digital policy with Lagos’ unmatched innovation energy,” Bareyei said.
The newly launched Community ICT Centre will serve as a local digital innovation hub, offering:
- Training under the 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme
- Support for startups and tech entrepreneurs
- Regulatory guidance for safe, inclusive innovation
- Partnership opportunities with local institutions and the private sector
A Step Toward a Digitally Inclusive Nigeria
The Federal Ministry emphasised its commitment to inclusivity through initiatives like the 3MTT program and the upcoming National Digital Economy & e-Governance Bill. This bill is expected to create a strong legal framework for online engagement and digital rights in Nigeria.
Through projects like this initiative of widespread community ICT centres, Nigeria is paving the way for a digitally empowered future, one where no Nigerian is left behind in the digital revolution.
