President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, officially commissioned the Northwest Digital Industrial Park in Kano, a facility previously vandalised during the 2024 End-Bad-Governance protest.
Representing the President at the event was the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to technological advancement and youth empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This landmark project provided by His Excellency President Bola Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda can serve as a difference between poverty and success in the life of youths who properly utilize the opportunity,” Dr. Tijani stated.
He expressed regret over the destruction of the digital facility, which was set to be commissioned before the violent protest of August 1st, 2024.
“A week before the date of the commissioning, the unfortunate protest happened, and this edifice was completely destroyed. You can imagine how painful that experience was for me seeing this building completed in January, the excitement I had, hoping that this center would be a place where many young people would get breakthroughs in life—only to realize in the news that it was totally destroyed,” he lamented.
Despite the setback, the Minister said he moved quickly to restore the facility, reaching out to private companies to fast-track repairs and avoid bureaucratic delays.
“I immediately looked around and reached out to companies because I didn’t want bureaucracy to keep this location from being commissioned again,” he explained.
Highlighting the park’s significance, Dr. Tijani noted that the facility is expected to directly benefit over 180,000 residents in Kano alone—representing 10 percent of total national applicants for digital skill initiatives.
He further outlined the broader vision of the initiative, which aims to train three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills to prepare them for global opportunities. He emphasized that 65 percent of Kano’s population falls within the 20–25-year age bracket and must be equipped for the digital future.
“You live at a time when the world is connected, knowledge is available to you wherever you find yourself for as long as you have opportunity and access to the center. I have seen many young people in my life that have moved from nothing to become something with such opportunity,” he said, urging youths and community members to safeguard the facility.
In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Tijani was honored with the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Digitalization of Kano and presented with a ceremonial sword and cap.
Also speaking at the event, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his deputy Abdussalam Gwarzo, pledged to train 300,000 youths in digital skills by 2027. He revealed that 5,000 civil servants had already been trained as part of the state’s ongoing digital transformation drive.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, described the park as a cornerstone of the national digital economy strategy.
“We are confident that this digital park will serve as fuel to empower the industrious people of Kano State, especially the youths, and support their pursuit of digital talent and development,” he stated.
