By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Kano Digital Industrial Park, which was vandalised during a protest in 2024 by some residents of the state, has been rebuilt with the support of IHS Nigeria.

The facility was commissioned on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani.

It came weeks after Ilorin Innovation Hub, the largest innovation hub of its kind in West Africa, also sponsored by IHS Nigeria, kicked off its incubation and acceleration programmes.

At the event yesterday, Mr Tijani highlighted the significance of public-private collaboration in shaping Nigeria’s digital future, describing the second unveiling of the Kano Digital Industrial Park as a powerful demonstration of what is possible when public and private sector actors unite behind a shared vision.

“This facility is more than just infrastructure; it is a beacon of innovation, resilience, and opportunity for Northern Nigeria. IHS Nigeria’s swift intervention following the vandalism of this park reflects true partnership and corporate citizenship.

“Together, we are laying the foundation for a future where young Nigerians, especially those in underserved communities, have the tools and training to thrive in a digital economy,” he stated.

The Minister noted that the Kano Digital Industrial Park forms a key part of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, a flagship government program aimed at equipping Nigerians with globally competitive digital skills.

The renovation includes fully equipped training labs, power and connectivity infrastructure, upgraded learning spaces, and restored digital equipment to support thousands of learners across Northern Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of IHS Nigeria, Mr Kazeem Oladepo, who represented the CEO of IHS Nigeria, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital future.

“Our decision to sponsor the refurbishment of the Kano Digital Park is rooted in our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy and empowering young Nigerians with the skills to thrive in the digital age,” he said.

“This partnership with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is a clear demonstration of the power of public-private collaboration in addressing national challenges.

“We are proud to contribute to the 3MTT program and help restore this park as a hub of innovation and opportunity for the Kano community. Supporting initiatives like this and others such as the Ilorin Innovation Hub is how we aim to foster long-term digital growth, create jobs, and drive inclusive development across Nigeria,” he added.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Aminu Maida, emphasized the strategic importance of the park and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to enabling Nigeria’s digital future.

“The recommissioning of the NCC Digital Industrial Park in Kano is a landmark moment in our journey to accelerate ICT innovation and empower the next generation of digital pioneers.

“This facility will serve as a catalyst for digital inclusion, economic transformation, and youth empowerment not just in Kano, but across the entire Northwest region. We remain committed to creating a thriving digital ecosystem where innovation can flourish and no one is left behind in Nigeria’s digital revolution.”

The Governor of Kano State, Mr Abba Yusuf, represented his deputy, Mr Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, reaffirmed the state’s digital ambition and expressed deep appreciation for the partnership that made the park’s restoration possible.

“This commissioning marks more than the unveiling of a refurbished structure; it represents Kano’s bold vision to lead Northern Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“We are grateful to IHS Nigeria for their swift response and unwavering support following the vandalisation of this facility. Their commitment goes beyond corporate responsibility, it reflects a shared vision for a digitally inclusive Nigeria.”

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has pledged to back local cloud hosting efforts and data infrastructure to allow Nigerian companies compete with foreign counterparts.

The Nigerian government made this pledged as MTN Nigeria launched its $150 million Tier III Dabengwa Data Centre in Lagos.

This new facility, which is West Africa’s largest modular data center, was unveiled on Tuesday in a high-profile ceremony, marking a significant step in the country’s digital evolution and showcasing the administration’s dedication to achieving full digital sovereignty.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, said the new facility was a vital pillar in the government’s broader strategy to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign hosting services, enhance digital resilience, and foster economic diversification.

“This initiative aligns directly with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to build a $1 trillion economy, an economy powered by productivity, innovation, enterprise, and inclusivity,” Mr Tijani said.

“With infrastructure like this, we are keeping our data and capital local, reducing the need to spend scarce foreign exchange. It provides the digital backbone for key sectors such as fintech, healthcare, education, and AI. This is how we build national trust and ensure digital sovereignty,” he added.

Mr Tijani also reaffirmed that the facility supports the government’s Project BRIDGE and the deployment of 7,000 communication towers in unserved and underserved areas, which together aim to provide meaningful connectivity to over 20 million Nigerians still offline.

He further praised MTN’s support for the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, noting the company’s N3 billion commitment to training Nigerian youth in digital skills.

“Talent needs platforms. This facility provides exactly that enterprise-grade infrastructure on Nigerian soil that enables startups, developers, and creators to scale their innovations from Nigeria to the world,” the Minister said.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inua Abdullahi, described the development as more than a corporate milestone, calling it a national investment in data sovereignty and a foundation for Africa-focused innovation.

“This project signifies Nigeria’s readiness to build a robust, inclusive, and truly sovereign digital ecosystem in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Mr Abdullahi said.

“It directly supports the Nigeria Data Protection and Trust Policy, and positions the country to compete with global hyperscalers by enabling local cloud providers to thrive. With our 9-0-2 strategy, we at NITDA are working to expand inclusive access to digital infrastructure and create the right standards to accelerate cloud and AI adoption nationwide.”

He added that Nigeria is no longer waiting for foreign hyperscalers to invest in local capacity.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerians are to expected to see improvement in telecommunication services as top forms have commenced network upgrades, following investments of up to $1 billion in equipment.

The equipment, received from Chinese manufacturers, is expected to boost quality offering and tackle service issues.

According to a report from The Punch, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that equipment shipments have started arriving.

This is line with its deadline to mobile network operators working to make significant service improvements before the end of 2025.

“The ordered equipment have started arriving since early June, and deployment has already started in earnest by the Mobile Network Operators,” the newspaper quoted the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Aminu Maida.

“They are on course to meet the fourth quarter deadline for significant Quality of Experience enhancements,” he added.

A propped utilisation of the $1 billion will overturn underinvestment in infrastructure in recent years, a challenge that has plagued Nigerian telcos and consumers alike.

This comes following the approval of a long-awaited 50 per cent tariff increase by the industry regulator early this year.

The tariff review, the first in since 2013, was introduced to help operators cope with mounting operating costs, which has worsened due to inflation, energy prices, and foreign exchange constraints.

Mr Maida said it has received deployment strategies from all major operators and is closely monitoring progress.

“As the regulator, we collaborate closely with operators to streamline deployment plans and navigate complex dependencies. All operators have submitted their network improvement and deployment strategies, which we are rigorously monitoring,” he stated.

He also assured Nigerians that service improvements would become visible before the end of the year, even as he acknowledged the scale and complexity of the national upgrade effort.

“Nigerians can expect clear improvements in service quality by year-end, given the country’s vast size and complex network deployment challenges. Telcos are committed to their Q4 2025 network enhancement plans, backed by significant investments in cutting-edge technology to meet rising digital service demands,” the regulator noted.

“As the regulator, we are steadfast in holding them accountable for consistent progress,” the EVC assured.