The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Thursday commissioned an Information Technology Community Centre in Akesan, a suburb of Lagos, as part of efforts to promote inclusivity in the digital space.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, stated that the facility was established to provide access to digital infrastructure and skills, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
Today marked a significant milestone in Akesan, Lagos State, as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa , officially commissioned the Community IT Centre.
Inuwa noted that the agency is on a mission to establish digital innovation hubs across Nigeria to drive economic growth and inclusion.
“This initiative is in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to fast-track economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation,” he said.
He revealed that NITDA has already set up 222 smaller digital centres in schools, 18 community IT hubs, and three innovation hubs across the country, with a long-term goal of establishing over 1,600 digital innovation hubs nationwide.
“Our aim is to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusivity, enabling Nigerians from all backgrounds to participate meaningfully in the digital economy,” he said. “With the target of over 1,600 hubs, the agency is poised to make a profound impact on Nigeria’s economic development.”
Inuwa further explained that the IT Community Centre model is designed to be sustainable, with community ownership and leadership at its core. While NITDA provides the guidelines and operational benchmarks, local communities are responsible for daily management.
He added that the approach involves active engagement with local leaders, elders, and youth, which has already proven effective in places like Akesan, where a community member, Mrs Sikiratu Abdulaziz, donated the land for the project.
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Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, commended Lagos for its pioneering role in technology, enterprise, and innovation.
“Lagos has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in Africa. It has nurtured some of the continent’s most successful companies and raised a generation of tech-driven young people ready to build, solve, and lead,” Tijani said.
He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to promoting inclusivity through capacity-building initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the development of the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill — a legislative framework to guide digital engagement.
Tijani also referenced Project BRIDGE, the Ministry’s ambitious initiative to enhance nationwide interconnectivity through the deployment of 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable, describing it as crucial to Nigeria’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion innovation-driven economy.
“Today’s commissioning of the NITDA Community Centre is more than just opening a building,” he said. “It represents a strategic link between federal digital economy policies and the unmatched innovation and energy of Lagos. It aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda to decentralise opportunity, expand access to digital skills, and embed innovation into everyday Nigerian life.”
In her remarks, Mrs Sikiratu Abdulaziz expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support community development, stating she was proud to have contributed to empowering Akesan residents through digital access.
Also speaking, Mr Nurudeen Babatunde, Director of Infomind Technology and a beneficiary of the initiative, said the centre would operate on both free and paid access models. He explained that proceeds from the paid model would be used to ensure the centre’s sustainability.
Reports indicate that the Akesan IT Community Centre is equipped with over 70 laptops and offers free internet access.
