By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has challenged Nigerian students to become active drivers of innovation and technological advancement, urging them to harness emerging technologies to develop solutions capable of transforming the nation’s economy.
Speaking during the commissioning and handover of the Renewed Hope–NITDA Innovation Hub at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Dr. Tijani described the facility as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and a platform designed to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.
The innovation hub, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Addressing students, academics, alumni, and other stakeholders at the event, the Minister emphasized that the success of the facility would depend not on the infrastructure itself but on the people who utilise it.
“Innovation does not come from buildings; innovation comes from people,” Dr. Tijani said. “Before all these buildings, this university had been producing talent, innovators, and people who have changed our country for good. It is not these buildings alone that will do it.”
He noted that access to knowledge is no longer the greatest challenge facing young people in the digital era, stressing that the ability to apply acquired knowledge remains the key to meaningful innovation.
“A lot of students are in school today at a time when knowledge itself is ubiquitous,” he stated. “There is nothing your teachers want to teach you that you cannot find online. The biggest challenge today is the ability to apply the knowledge that you have been given or that you find.”
According to the Minister, innovation centres such as the newly commissioned hub are designed to provide students with opportunities to experiment, create, and develop practical solutions to societal challenges.
“If you want to know how to build a helicopter today, you can find it on Generative AI,” he said. “But the question is, can you translate that knowledge into action? That is what centres like these are meant for. When you are taught, you come here and apply that knowledge to build something.”
Dr. Tijani further urged students, faculty members, and alumni to ensure the facility remains fully utilised and properly maintained, warning against allowing it to become an underused asset.
He stressed that Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a leading digital economy would depend largely on the ability of young people to create value through innovation and technology.
“The leaders can try, but if you do not apply your knowledge to build solutions, we will not get to where we need to be,” he said. “This is an important asset. You have to take care of it and ensure it serves the purpose for which it was established.”
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor A. S. Bamire, commended Dr. Tijani and the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, for their sustained support and strategic investments in the institution’s digital transformation agenda.
Professor Bamire highlighted several interventions facilitated by the Minister, including the donation of 50 laptops to students, a $1,000 support fund for student innovators, and a commitment to provide a 30-kilometre fibre-optic network aimed at improving internet connectivity across the university.
He described Dr. Tijani as a valued stakeholder whose contributions continue to positively impact the university community.
The Vice-Chancellor also praised NITDA for providing critical digital infrastructure and innovation facilities that have strengthened the institution’s capacity to adopt information technology, enhanced students’ digital literacy and skills, and expanded opportunities for innovation, research, and technology-driven learning.
He noted that the partnership between NITDA and the university has played a significant role in preparing students to thrive in an increasingly digital and technology-driven world.
The Renewed Hope–NITDA Innovation Hub is part of broader efforts by NITDA to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, promote digital skills development, and equip young Nigerians with the tools needed to compete in the global digital economy.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the facility would provide students with access to advanced technologies, hands-on learning opportunities, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to drive technological advancement and support Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
