The Federal Government has named Katsina among 10 states selected to host a new $10 billion Innovation Hub aimed at boosting digital transformation and broadband connectivity across the country.
Receiving the state governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, in his office in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani said the innovation hub, one of the flagship projects under the federal digital economy plan, would be ‘one of the best designed’ facilities in Nigeria, adding that construction was expected to commence before the end of next year.
‘Katsina is one of Nigeria’s most promising innovation states’, the minister said. ‘With the support of Governor Radda, we are confident this project will accelerate digital growth in the North’.
The minister also announced that the state would receive five new satellite-based internet sites under the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to improve broadband coverage, especially in rural communities.
Radda described the development as a major boost to his administration’s digital reform agenda, adding that the state was ready to partner fully with the Federal Government to deepen ICT penetration and innovation.
‘ICT is one of our top governance priorities’, Radda said. ‘We’ve created a Directorate of ICT, trained our workforce, reduced paperwork, and implemented a Treasury Single Account that’s already 85 per cent completed’.
The governor noted that the state had granted free Right-of-Way to broadband investors to enhance internet access across major public institutions, including the Government House, hospitals, schools, and ICT centres.
He, however, called for greater broadband expansion to rural areas and requested that one of the satellite internet sites be connected to the new model schools in the state — a proposal the minister immediately a proposal the minister immediately approved.
Tijani also disclosed that the Federal Government planned to scale up the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme in Katsina, saying participants would later use the new innovation hub as their operational base.
Commending Radda’s proactive leadership, Tijani revealed that Katsina’s active participation in digital projects nearly earned it the headship of one of the country’s key ICT agencies.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Faruk Yabo commended the state government for its strong collaboration with the federal ministry, noting that several projects for the state were already nearing approval.
Yabo said: ‘Katsina is very dear to us — not out of sentiment, but merit. Most of the plans have reached advanced stages, and the minister has already prioritised them for funding’.
The governor was accompanied by his Principal Private Secretary, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji; Special Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs and Development Partners, Hajia Hadiza Maikudi; and a board member of the North West Development Commission, Alhaji Shamsu Sule.
The meeting, according to officials, further cements the state’s position as one of the leading ones in country’s digital transformation drive.
