The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Enugu State Government have signed a 15-year lease agreement for the NCC's Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre in Enugu, transforming the facility into the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute. The agreement, signed on Tuesday at the Government House in Enugu, aligns with President Bola Tinubu's digital economy agenda and the $1 trillion economy goal.
Strategic Partnership for Digital Growth
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, said the lease fully supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, which aims to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy driven by productivity, innovation, and private sector growth. He praised Governor Peter Mbah's vision to build Enugu into a digital economic powerhouse through deliberate investments in education, infrastructure, and innovation.
"Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu's ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research, and technology-enabled enterprise," Maida stated. He emphasized that the facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation and human capital development, designed to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment, and position Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing.
Beyond Physical Infrastructure
Maida stressed that completing physical infrastructure is only the beginning. "Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together," he said. He also commended Governor Mbah's Smart Green Schools initiative, noting that technology-enabled schools and AI laboratories demonstrate an understanding that education must evolve alongside technology.
"Investment in education and skills raises productivity, expands economic opportunity, and strengthens the ability of individuals and businesses to create value," Maida added. He highlighted that AI is reshaping industries, automation is changing the nature of work, and digital technologies are transforming how governments serve citizens.
Enugu's Vision for AI Leadership
Governor Peter Mbah expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for recognizing the centrality of the digital economy to national growth. He noted that AI would contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030, saying, "It is not a space you want your young ones to be missing." Mbah emphasized that Enugu's brightest talents should not be exported in person but should export their talents from home, creating jobs and opportunities locally.
"We are also looking at transforming the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class AI institute," Mbah said. He mentioned ongoing collaborations with teams from Qatar to make the facility a certification centre for AI on the continent. Mbah assured the NCC that the decision to hand over the facilities would yield proud results in the coming years.
Official Endorsement and Future Prospects
Arinze Chilo-Ofia, Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and MSMEs, thanked the federal government and NCC for their confidence in Enugu State. He pledged to activate and optimize the assets to realize the objectives for which they were built. The lease marks a significant step in the state's digital transformation, with the AI Institute expected to attract investment, create jobs, and foster innovation.
