By Peter Omopo
Kano, July 3, 2025 — The Federal Government on Wednesday officially commissioned the Northwest Digital Industrial Park in Kano, which had been vandalised during the August 2024 anti-government protests.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani, reiterated the administration’s commitment to driving inclusive digital transformation across Nigeria, despite setbacks.
The multimillion-naira facility, aimed at nurturing tech talent and entrepreneurship in Northern Nigeria, was completed in January 2024 but suffered extensive damage during the “End Bad Governance” demonstrations on August 1 last year.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Dr. Tijjani expressed both disappointment and optimism, lamenting the destruction while emphasising the park’s long-term potential to transform lives.
“It was painful to witness the destruction of such a visionary project, especially knowing it was carried out by young people — the very demographic it was built to empower,” the minister said. “But we chose not to dwell on the setback. Instead, we pushed forward to restore and relaunch this facility.”
Dr. Tijjani said the park is a flagship initiative under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and holds the promise of bridging poverty and prosperity for Nigerian youth.
He disclosed that the center is expected to directly benefit at least 180,000 young people in Kano — representing 10% of nationwide applicants — through access to digital skills, entrepreneurship training, and innovation hubs.
“A week before the initial commissioning, the protest happened, and this building was destroyed. But I didn’t want bureaucracy to delay this project. I reached out immediately to partners and companies willing to help restore it,” he said.
The Northwest Digital Industrial Park is part of the federal government’s broader plan to establish regional tech hubs that can position Nigeria as a digital innovation powerhouse across Africa.
Dr. Tijjani encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of such facilities, noting that with the right mindset and resources, they could become global technology leaders.
“This isn’t just infrastructure. It is an opportunity — a gateway to global digital economies. It’s up to our youth to embrace it,” he added.
