Enugu approves land for ITF Digital Fabrication Centre to boost innovation, skills and youth jobs in the state.
The Enugu State Government has approved a parcel of land for the construction of a modern Digital Fabrication Centre in the state capital.
Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah gave the approval over the weekend while hosting a delegation of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, at the Government House, Enugu.
The approval clears the way for the ITF to establish its second major fabrication hub in Nigeria
Governor Mbah said the project came at the right time for the state. According to him, it fits perfectly into his administration's plan to make Enugu a top choice for investment, innovation and industrial growth.
He explained that real economic growth will only come from intentional investment in people and new technology. He added that his government has continued to build an environment where businesses, innovation and technology can thrive.
In a statement released by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Thomas Ngor, the governor said Enugu has already made technical education compulsory at the basic level.
Learners in the state are now exposed to digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics. The goal, he said, is to prepare them for the future of work.
Mbah noted that most traditional handwork today is now powered by digital tools. That is why young people must be equipped with skills that will help them compete anywhere in the world.
He revealed that his administration has built smart green schools across the 260 wards in the state. Each school is fitted with robotics centres, mechatronics labs and other modern learning facilities.
The governor pointed out that Artificial Intelligence alone is projected to add about $20 trillion to the world economy in the next few years. Enugu, he stressed, cannot be left behind.
He said the coming ITF Digital Fabrication Centre will strengthen the state's push for a knowledge-driven economy. It will also boost local production, drive innovation and create jobs for the large youth population.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, who led the delegation, said his mandate from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is clear.
He was directed to upgrade the skills of Nigerian artisans to meet global standards.
To achieve this, the Fund repositioned its training approach. One of the key initiatives is the Skill-Up Artisans, SUPA, Programme. The programme is designed to train, certify and license artisans across the country.
Dr. Ogun disclosed that the ITF already runs a functional Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. The Lagos centre can produce more than 400 different items.
He said the Fund wants to replicate the same capacity in Enugu and therefore sought land allocation from the state government.
According to him, the centre will promote industrialisation, cut down import dependence and prepare Nigerians for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He also stated that the Fund is open to Public-Private Partnerships that will transform the country's artisanal sector.
Ogun stressed that technologies like Artificial Intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing are changing the global economy fast. Nigeria must invest deliberately in skills to stay competitive.
After the meeting, the ITF delegation was taken on a tour of one of the smart schools built by the Enugu State Government to see the facilities on ground.
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