NITDA Unveils Bold Plan to Launch 1,600 ICT Centres Nationwide

By Achimi Muktar

Imagine a Nigeria where no child is left behind because they don’t own a computer, where youth in the remotest village can learn to code, and local entrepreneurs can pitch to global investors from their own towns. That’s the bold vision the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is chasing — and they’re doing it with 1,600 new ICT centres across the country.

On Thursday, during the commissioning of a community ICT centre in Akesan, Lagos, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, unveiled this ambitious plan to make Nigeria digitally inclusive — one community at a time.

“We want every Nigerian, regardless of their background or location, to be part of the digital economy,” Inuwa declared. “Our goal is to build 1,600 centres nationwide to ensure no one is excluded from this national prosperity.”

From Zero to 222: NITDA’s Silent Progress

Inuwa revealed that 222 ICT centres have already been rolled out in just two years, falling into three strategic categories:

Equipping schools with ICT tools

Constructing community ICT centres

Establishing fully functional ICT hubs

Of these, 18 are community centres, while 3 are ICT hubs already supporting digital activities in underserved areas.

Driving Digital Inclusion Under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

This initiative is deeply rooted in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places economic diversification and inclusivity at the heart of governance.

One of the President’s seven top priorities is accelerating national growth through digitization, innovation, industrialization, and creativity. NITDA’s mission to place a digital centre in every community directly responds to this call.

“The President directed us to target unserved and underserved communities,” Inuwa said. “These ICT centres will be gateways to opportunity for Nigerians, regardless of gender, education level, or geographic location.”

Lagos as a Launchpad for National Digital Energy

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, was Director of E-Government, Johnson Bareyei. He emphasized that the Akesan ICT Centre is more than a building — it’s a bridge between national policy and grassroots innovation.

“This centre reflects our mission to decentralize opportunity,” Bareyei said. “We’re bringing innovation to the everyday experience of Nigerians, making sure everyone has a chance to participate in the digital economy.”

The facility will serve as a hub for digital skills development, providing access to:

The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme

Support for startups, tech entrepreneurs, and creatives

Regulatory and advisory guidance for safe innovation

Collaboration with private sector and local institutions

Digital Policy Backed by Law

The Ministry isn’t just stopping at infrastructure. Tijani also revealed that the government is developing a National Digital Economy & e-Governance Bill — a legislative framework to support digital rights, innovation, and online safety.

“The bill will help guide everyday digital engagement in Nigeria,” he added, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to inclusive and secure tech access for all.

A Future Built on Access

With this sweeping initiative, NITDA is taking real steps toward a digitally democratized Nigeria, one where no community is left offline.

As ICT centres begin popping up across towns and rural areas, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s next billion-dollar startup founder might just be sitting in a village with a freshly installed computer lab — and a shot at global impact.