NCC, Enugu Sign 15-Year Agreement to Turn Digital Park into AI and Innovation Hubs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Enugu State Government have entered into a 15-year lease agreement aimed at transforming the Commission’s Digital Industrial Park (DIP) and Learning Centre in Enugu into a major hub for artificial intelligence, digital skills and technology-driven entrepreneurship.The agreement was signed on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Enugu State Government House as part of Governor Peter Mbah’s efforts to position the state as a leading destination for digital innovation and technology-enabled businesses.Under the arrangement, the Enugu State Government will take over the management and optimisation of the facilities, with plans to develop them into the Enugu Talent City and Artificial Intelligence Institute.NCC backs Enugu’s digital ambitionSpeaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the partnership supports the Federal Government’s broader ambition of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy through productivity, innovation and private-sector development.Maida commended the Enugu administration for its investments in education, infrastructure, innovation and digital capacity, describing the state as well positioned to maximise the opportunities created by the facilities.He said the NCC expects the partnership to help establish Enugu as an attractive destination for digital services, artificial intelligence, startup incubation, outsourcing, research and technology-enabled businesses.According to him, the facilities should become places where young Nigerians can acquire practical digital skills, entrepreneurs can develop ideas into sustainable businesses, and local companies can connect with markets and opportunities beyond the state and the country.From buildings to people and ideasMaida stressed that the purpose of the Digital Industrial Park goes beyond providing physical infrastructure.The facilities were designed to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and human capital development while helping to deepen digital skills, support startups, attract investment and create employment.“Buildings alone do not create innovation. People do. Ideas do. Entrepreneurs do. And partnerships bring all these elements together,” he said.He also praised Governor Mbah’s investment in Smart Green Schools, describing the initiative as evidence that Enugu is preparing its education system and workforce for a technology-driven future.According to Maida, the increasing use of artificial intelligence and automation across industries makes investment in education and digital skills particularly important. Such investments, he said, can improve productivity and create new opportunities for individuals and businesses.Mbah: Enugu’s talents should work for the global economy from homeGovernor Peter Mbah welcomed the agreement and praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising the importance of the digital economy in Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.Mbah said Enugu intends to ensure that its young people are not left behind as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape the global economy.He also outlined his administration’s ambition to enable highly skilled young people in the state to serve international clients without having to leave Nigeria physically.“Our talents, our brightest talents, should not be exported in person,” the governor said, stressing that Enugu wants its young people to export their skills and services to the world while remaining in the state.The governor believes the newly secured digital facilities can contribute significantly to job creation, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities for young people.Enugu plans world-class AI institutionMbah further disclosed that the state government plans to transform the Digital Bridge Institute into a world-class artificial intelligence institution while repositioning the Digital Industrial Park to serve emerging technology industries.He said the state had already begun discussions with teams from Qatar as part of efforts to establish an AI certification centre with continental relevance.The governor expressed confidence that the partnership with the NCC would unlock the potential of facilities that had previously remained underutilised.He said the decision to activate the assets could ultimately prove valuable for both Enugu State and Nigeria’s wider digital economy.A potential boost for Nigeria’s digital economyThe agreement comes as Nigeria continues to invest in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, skills development and technology entrepreneurship as tools for economic diversification.For Enugu, the long-term objective is to create an environment where skills, technology, innovation and investment converge—giving young people access to training and employment while helping businesses compete in an increasingly digital global economy.If successfully implemented, the Digital Industrial Park and Learning Centre could become an important part of Enugu’s strategy to build a technology ecosystem capable of producing skilled workers, supporting startups and attracting digital businesses to the state.