THE government of Nigeria is to construct a National ICT Park in Abuja following the approval of $23.4 million by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the implementation of the project.
To be built on a 4,200 square metre piece of land, the park will the first of its kind in the country. It will have state-of-the-art facilities, a National ICT Exhibition Centre, as well as Museum for ICT and postal services, to showcase technology-related innovations by Nigerians.
The National ICT Park will be supported by the recently launched National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (NDIEC).
According to the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the National ICT Park will be a focal point for the supervision of both public and private ICT hubs in the country.
‘It will also serve as a centre for National ICT policy formulation, research, and development. Furthermore, through it the Federal Government will provide the enabling environment for creative Nigerians to come up with innovative technologies,’ he added.
The ICT Park is expected to boost the digital economy, provide the space and environment for the growth of innovation-driven enterprises (IDEs) and serve as an incubator for cutting-edge technology, and a mentorship platform for innovators, amongst others.
It will provide a central location for Nigerian innovators with vibrant and developmental ideas to receive mentorship and all that they need to thrive.
The project is in line with the objectives of the new national strategic digital economy policy adopted last year.