Abiodun inaugurates digital innovation park in Ogun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said the establishment of the first digital innovation park in southern Nigeria, located in Ogun State, would serve as a centre for skills development and a springboard for digital entrepreneurship in the country.

Abiodun stated this on Wednesday when he inaugurated the Nigeria Communication Commission’s Digital Innovation Park, along Kobape Road, Abeokuta.

According to the governor, the innovation park was in line with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s transformation, rooted in inclusive growth, digital transformation, job creation, and economic stability.

He said: “This facility, the first in southern Nigeria, will serve as a nucleus of innovation, a centre for skill development, and a springboard for digital entrepreneurship not just for Ogun State, but for the entire southern Nigeria.

We recognise the pivotal role of digital innovation in driving economic growth, creating employment, and enhancing the quality of life.”

The event, the governor noted, was a milestone in the journey of the state becoming a leader in technology, innovation, and digital transformation in the country.

Abiodun emphasised that the park went beyond a physical structure, describing it as a beacon of progress, a catalyst for economic growth, and a testament to the unwavering commitment to harness technology for the collective good of the people.

The centre, the governor emphasised, signified the affirmation of the collective resolve to empower the youth and take bold strides into the digital future that beckoned.

He added that the park underscored the successful collaboration between the government at the centre and the state government.

The governor said the establishment of the innovation park reflected a strong commitment to fostering creativity and entrepreneurship, adding that technology had moved from being a luxury to a foundation for building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive economy.

The Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the park was part of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, which placed digital innovation, youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth at the heart of the nation’s journey to achieving a $1tn economy.

He said the ministry was set to make Nigeria a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development, and innovation by building a foundation in fibre optic network and artificial intelligence framework, and talent pipelining for city dwellers and other parts of the country.

“Shared prosperity must be built on shared access to opportunities, and that is what this digital innovation symbolizes: access to opportunities and a bigger future,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, described the park as a landmark to broaden ICT, strengthen research capabilities, and drive sustainable growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.