Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has emphasized that Nigeria’s economic diversification from a mono-product oil economy can be accelerated through strategic investment in the Information Technology (IT) sector.
He made this known on Wednesday during the commissioning of the South East Zonal Office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Enugu.
Governor Mbah noted that it was imperative for Nigeria to shift away from overdependence on oil, stressing that IT holds immense potential to drive that transformation.
According to him, “investment into the Information Technology space would do the magic.”
He further stated that establishing a NITDA presence in Enugu would expand opportunities for Nigerian youths and serve as a major step toward realizing the country’s aspiration to diversify its economy.
“The need and urgency to diversify our economy, both at national and sub-national levels, has never been more compelling than now and there are few sectors that hold the opportunities for us to accomplish that like the Information Technology space,” the governor said.
He warned that unless available opportunities are harnessed, the vision of economic diversification would remain unrealized.
He therefore described the new NITDA office as a vital step toward making that goal a reality.
“It is an opportunity for our teeming youths to have a platform to improve themselves to a life long skills set that will prepare them for the dynamic global world space today and tomorrow,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, described the new NITDA office as a tangible link between national policies and local capabilities.
“The inauguration of the NITDA Regional Office in Enugu was more than the opening of a building; it is the establishment of a permanent bridge between national policy and local potential,” the minister said.
Dr. Tijani noted that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at broadening inclusion and distributing economic opportunities more equitably across the country.
“It is a strategic move under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, a commitment to decentralising opportunity, deepening inclusion, and unlocking the full power of Nigeria’s digital economy across every region.
“By placing NITDA closer to the people right here in the South-East, we are saying clearly: no region should have to wait for innovation to reach them. Innovation must grow with them,” he stated.
He added that the Enugu Zonal Office would drive digital skill development and entrepreneurship through initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program.
“There will be support for startups and indigenous tech solutions; regulatory advisory, to help businesses thrive within the frameworks that protect Nigerians, and closer partnerships with state governments, academia, and the private sector,” he concluded.
