The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has equipped 50 young innovators in Enugu State with digital tools, in a move aimed at accelerating grassroots innovation and deepening digital inclusion in Nigeria’s South-East.
The intervention followed a broader training programme that saw over 900 youths register on NITDA’s digital learning platform, with 250 participants recognised for outstanding performance.
Enugu’s shift from coal to code
Delivering remarks on behalf of Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA’s director-general, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, credited Governor Peter Mbah’s backing of NITDA’s South-East Zonal Office as a key factor behind its rapid growth. The office is now ranked among the agency’s top-performing zones nationwide.
Inuwa’s message framed Enugu’s transformation as symbolic.
Once known as Nigeria’s coal capital, the state is now positioning itself as a knowledge economy driven by youth talent and digital skills.
“Enugu was once an energy capital powering industries from beneath the earth. Today, the energy driving Enugu is the creativity, talent, and determination of its young people,” the statement read.
The DG also referenced projections that the global digital economy could contribute up to $23 trillion to GDP in the coming years, underscoring the urgency for Nigeria to invest in digital capacity.
NITDA has set a target of achieving 70% digital literacy nationwide by 2027, part of a broader strategy to transition Nigeria from a resource-based economy to one powered by innovation and technology.
Mbah’s innovation push
Governor Peter Mbah described the gathering as more than a technology festival, calling it “a reinforcement of intent” as Enugu seeks to establish itself as a credible node within Nigeria’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Drawing parallels between the state’s coal legacy and its digital future, Mbah argued that while coal once generated industrial power, the economic value largely exited the state. The new opportunity, he said, lies in retaining value through local innovation and technology-driven enterprises.
The governor highlighted the state’s adoption of artificial intelligence in security operations, digitisation of core government services, and deployment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in land administration as part of Enugu’s tech-enabled governance reforms.
“Find what is broken, understand it deeply, and fix it properly,” he advised participants, emphasising practical problem-solving over hype.
Building a tech ecosystem
Earlier, Dr. Prince Lawrence Ezeh, Enugu’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, said the state has trained thousands of young people through digital skills programmes and launched major tech infrastructure projects, including what he described as Nigeria’s largest tech hub initiative.
He added that technology clusters in blockchain and gaming are expanding within the state, alongside reforms to embed digital systems across governance, security, and public service delivery.
The event also drew key ecosystem stakeholders, including Anna Vesterholm, Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, and Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission.
As states across Nigeria compete to attract innovation capital and digital talent, Enugu is betting on skills development and institutional partnerships to anchor its transition from coal to code.
