*Urges students to build solutions for Nigeria’s digital future
WorldStage– Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has challenged Nigerian students to move beyond acquiring knowledge and focus on developing practical technology-driven solutions that can accelerate the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the commissioning and handover of the Renewed Hope NITDA Innovation Hub at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Tijani described the facility as a strategic investment aimed at nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills among young Nigerians.
The state-of-the-art hub, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, houses advanced laboratories for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Additive Manufacturing and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Addressing students, academics, alumni and other stakeholders, the Minister stressed that the success of the facility would depend not on the infrastructure itself but on how effectively students and researchers utilise it to solve real-world problems.
“Innovation does not come from buildings; innovation comes from people,” Tijani said, noting that OAU had produced generations of innovators long before the construction of the new facility.
He explained that the hub was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, giving students access to the tools needed to transform ideas into products and solutions with societal and economic impact.
According to him, access to knowledge is no longer a major challenge in the digital age, as students can easily obtain information online. The real challenge, he said, lies in applying that knowledge to create value.
“A lot of students are in school today at a time when knowledge itself is ubiquitous. The biggest challenge today is the ability to apply the knowledge that you have been given or that you find,” he stated.
Tijani urged students to take advantage of the facility’s resources to experiment, innovate and develop technologies capable of addressing national challenges, adding that innovation hubs play a critical role in transforming ideas into tangible outcomes.
He also called on the university community to ensure the centre remains fully accessible and actively utilised, warning against allowing the facility to become an underused asset.
The Minister further linked Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions to the capacity of young people to create innovative solutions and build technology-enabled enterprises.
“The leaders can try, but if you do not apply your knowledge to build solutions, we will not get to where we need to be,” he said.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor A. S. Bamire, commended Tijani and the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, for their continued support for the university’s digital transformation agenda.
Bamire highlighted several interventions facilitated by the Minister, including the donation of 50 laptops to students, a $1,000 innovation support fund for student innovators and a commitment to provide a 30-kilometre fibre-optic network to improve internet connectivity across the campus.
He also praised NITDA for providing critical digital infrastructure and innovation facilities that have enhanced the university’s technology adoption, strengthened digital literacy among students and expanded opportunities for research and innovation.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the partnership between NITDA and OAU has significantly improved the institution’s capacity to prepare students for success in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
The Renewed Hope–NITDA Innovation Hub is part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, expand digital skills development and equip young Nigerians with the capabilities required to compete in the global digital economy.
The initiative is expected to provide students with hands-on access to emerging technologies, foster entrepreneurship and innovation, and contribute to Nigeria’s vision of building a thriving digital economy.
