Bukola Afeni
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has urged Nigerian students to harness technology and innovation to develop practical solutions capable of transforming the country’s economy.
Tijani made the call on Tuesday during the commissioning and handover of the Renewed Hope–NITDA Innovation Hub at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The facility, established by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the Renewed Hope Initiative, houses laboratories for robotics, additive manufacturing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging technologies.
Speaking at the event, the minister described the hub as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future but stressed that its success would depend on how effectively students and researchers utilise it.
“Innovation does not come from buildings; innovation comes from people,” Tijani said. “Before all these buildings, this university had been producing talent, innovators, and people who have changed our country for good.”
He said the centre was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, enabling students to transform ideas into real-world solutions.
“A lot of students are in school today at a time when knowledge itself is ubiquitous,” he said. “The biggest challenge today is the ability to apply the knowledge that you have been given or that you find.”
The minister urged students, faculty members and alumni to make full use of the facility, warning against allowing it to become underutilised.
“If you want to know how to build a helicopter today, you can find it online. But the question is, can you translate that knowledge into action? That is what centres like these are meant for,” he said.
According to Tijani, Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading digital economy will largely depend on the ability of young people to create value and solve problems through innovation.
“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 added.
In his remarks, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor A. S. Bamire, commended Tijani and NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa for their contributions to the university’s digital transformation efforts.
Bamire disclosed that the minister had previously donated 50 laptops to students, provided a $1,000 support fund for student innovators, and pledged to deliver a 30-kilometre fibre-optic network to improve internet connectivity across the institution.
He also praised NITDA for providing digital infrastructure and innovation facilities that have strengthened the university’s technology adoption, enhanced students’ digital skills, and expanded opportunities for research and innovation.
The Renewed Hope, NITDA Innovation Hub is part of NITDA’s broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, promote digital skills development, and equip young Nigerians with tools needed to compete in the global digital economy.
