Minister Tijani unveils NITDA Innovation Hub, challenges youth to build solutions
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has challenged Nigerian students to become active drivers of innovation and technological development, urging them to leverage emerging technologies to build solutions that can transform the nation’s economy.
The Minister made the call during the official commissioning and handover of the Renewed Hope–NITDA Innovation Hub at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The facility, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, is equipped with modern laboratories for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Addressing students, academics, alumni, and stakeholders at the event, Dr Tijani noted that the facility was created to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application, providing students with a platform to transform ideas into real-world solutions, explaining that in today’s digital age, access to knowledge is no longer the primary challenge for young people.
He said “A lot of students are in school today at a time when knowledge itself is ubiquitous. There is nothing your teachers want to teach you that you cannot find online. The biggest challenge today is the ability to apply the knowledge that you have been given or that you find. If you want to know how to build a helicopter today, you can find it on Generative AI. But the question is, can you translate that knowledge into action? That is what centres like these are meant for. When you are taught, you come here and apply that knowledge to build something,” he averred.
He further called on students, faculty members, and alumni to ensure that the facility remains accessible and fully utilised, warning against allowing the centre to become an underused asset.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor A. S. Bamire, expressed profound appreciation to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, and the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, for their sustained support and strategic investments in the university’s digital transformation journey.
Professor Bamire highlighted several contributions made by the Minister, including the donation of 50 laptops to students, a $1,000 support fund for student innovators, and the promise to provide a 30-kilometre fibre-optic network to enhance internet connectivity across the institution.
