The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Enugu State Government onTuesday, August 4, 2026, signed a 15-year lease agreement for the Commission’s Digital Industrial Park (DIP) and Learning Centre, located in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria.
Under the lease agreement inked at the Government House, in Enugu, the state capital, the state government would take over and optimise the digital facilities as the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s digital economy agenda.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the partnership aligned with the Federal Government’s ambition to grow the country into a $1 trillion economy, driven by productivity, innovation and private sector growth.
Maida noted that Governor Mbah has demonstrated clear commitment to positioning Enugu as a digital economic powerhouse through investments in education, infrastructure, innovation and digital capacity.
The Enugu State Government, the EVC/CEO of the Commission stated, is well-positioned to advance the objectives for which the facilities were established.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC also said: “Our expectation is that this partnership will support Enugu’s ambition to become a leading destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled enterprise.
“We also expect these facilities to become spaces where young people acquire relevant skills, entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable businesses and local enterprises connect to opportunities beyond Enugu and Nigeria.”
The NCC Chief Executive explained that the digital facilities were conceived as platforms for innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development, with the aim of deepening digital skills, supporting startups, attracting investment, creating jobs and positioning Nigeria as a competitive destination for business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and other technology-enabled services.
He also stated: “In essence, they were built not merely as physical assets, but as platforms for developing the people and enterprises that will power Nigeria’s digital economy.
“So, for us at the NCC, completing physical infrastructure is only the beginning. Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together.”
Appreciating the Enugu State Government for continued investments in key digital infrastructure, Maida applauded Mbah’s investment in Smart Green Schools.
He described the initiative as evidence of an administration preparing the state’s economy for the digital future.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC further said: “Physical infrastructure is essential to development, but infrastructure alone cannot deliver lasting prosperity. This is what makes the Smart Green Schools initiative significant. It recognises that preparing our children for tomorrow must begin today.
“Technology-enabled schools, digital learning facilities, robotics and artificial intelligence laboratories demonstrate an understanding that education must evolve alongside technology. That is leadership with the future in mind.”
According to him, investment in education and skills will boost productivity, expand economic opportunities, and strengthen the ability of individuals and businesses to create value, particularly as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation continue to reshape industries across the global community.
In his remarks, Governor Mbah lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising the centrality of the digital economy to his administration’s plan to build a $1 trillion economy, besides the role of state governments in driving the growth in the sector.
The Enugu Governor disclosed that Artificial Intelligence has been projected to contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030. He also emphasised that Enugu State could not afford to leave its young people behind while the rest of the country, and globe advance into the digital future.
The governor further noted that the state is determined to ensure that its brightest talents could provide services to the global economy right from Enugu rather than leaving the country physically.
Mbah explained: “We believe that they should export their talents outside the country from here, and that is why we see huge benefits in these assets in terms of job creation and opportunities for our young people.”
Underlining the seriousness of the Enugu State Government to attain marked development in digital economy, Mbah stated that his administration is determined to transform the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class AI institute, and reposition the Digital Industrial Park.
Governor Mbah, while assuring the NCC that the temporarily hand over of the facilities to the state government to make impact in the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy space will not be in vain, said: “I am sure that a few years down the line, we can come back here and be very proud of the decision we made today, to activate these assets and to make sure that they are productive.”
