Kano, Nigeria – The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, yesterday commissioned the newly restored Digital Industrial Park in Kano State, nearly a year after it was vandalized and looted during nationwide protests.
The facility, constructed and equipped by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was attacked on August 1, 2024, just a week before its initial commissioning date. Thugs destroyed and stole property worth hundreds of millions of naira, causing significant setbacks.
However, in a display of resilience, the federal government fast-tracked the park’s rehabilitation, completing the project in under a year.
“Instead of discouraging us, last year’s sad event even motivated us towards completing this project in less than a year. I am glad to say that it is even better than when it was looted last year,” Minister Tijani stated during the commissioning. He urged the Kano State government to safeguard the park to ensure its benefits reach the intended beneficiaries across the Northwest region.
Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, emphasized that the park aligns with the commission’s goal of fostering digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and research in the ICT sector. He said the facility is equipped with high-speed broadband and stable power supply to support start-ups and researchers in transforming ideas into viable solutions, adding that similar digital parks have been established in Ogun, Borno, and Enugu States as part of NCC’s nationwide initiative.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, praised the NCC for the project, calling it a symbol of innovation and collective progress. He assured enhanced security for the facility and highlighted the state’s recent establishment of the Kano State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (KASITDA) to drive ICT growth.
The reopening of the Digital Industrial Park marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push for a robust digital economy, despite earlier setbacks.
