Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has declared that technology will drive Nigeria’s economic diversification. Speaking during the inauguration of the South East Zonal Office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Enugu on Wednesday, Mbah described tech investment as the magic wand Nigeria needs to break free from its overreliance on oil.
With the global economy evolving rapidly and oil revenues no longer reliable, the governor stressed that the urgency to diversify Nigeria’s economy has never been more critical. He noted that information technology offers limitless possibilities to revolutionize productivity, unlock new industries, and provide job opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths.
Mbah praised the opening of the NITDA regional office in Enugu as a timely and strategic move, one that would ignite the digital dreams of young people in the South-East and accelerate the region’s contribution to the country’s tech-driven future. He emphasized that opportunities alone are not enough, institutions like NITDA are crucial in turning potential into progress.
According to Mbah, the office will serve as a launchpad for young Nigerians to acquire lifelong digital skills that can compete globally. “We now have a platform that gives our youths the chance to develop 21st-century skills that will prepare them for today’s dynamic and increasingly digital world,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, hailed the project as more than just a physical structure, describing it as “a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential.”
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He said the inauguration of the Enugu office aligns perfectly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to decentralize opportunities and deepen digital inclusion across the country.
“This initiative is about unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy by bringing innovation to the doorstep of every region,” Tijani said. “By bringing NITDA closer to the people of the South-East, we’re making it clear that innovation must grow with them, not come later.”
Tijani added that the new office would function as an engine room for digital skill-building programs like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative. It will also provide support for tech startups, regulatory guidance for businesses, and foster partnerships among government, academia, and the private sector to fuel Nigeria’s economic transformation.
As Enugu become a digital hub for the South-East, both Mbah and Tijani echoed a shared vision: that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies not in the barrels of oil, but in the bytes of code—and the time to act is now.