Enugu state Government has approved the establishment of Enugu Technology Hub and Youth Innovation Centres, at Enugu City and Obollo.
The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Obi Kama, said this in a Statement, in Enugu on Sunday.
Kama said that all important projects initiated by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to bring technology driven innovations down to the grassroots for digital economy, had reached advanced stage.
He disclosed that the target of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration was to turn Enugu into a Technology tourism state within the next three years.
“This will be done by bringing in the best Technology solutions and innovations through localisation and consequently increase the state Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by at least 15 per cent,” he said.
The Commissioner said that the hub also targeted to create over 1,500 small scale tech businesses in the region; employing over 10,000 youths within a short time.
He further disclosed that the services that would be rendered at the Technology Hub centres were computer training programmes, solar skills acquisition training, computer coding and web site designs.
Others were graphic designs, confectionaries and hands-on technical skills training, among others for the benefit of the people of Enugu State, especially the youth.
The commissioner stated that the centres would be equipped with computer sets, solar power source, 100 KVA Generator, internet access, training tools and consumables.
He explained that the facilities being installed at the centres were state-of-the-art in line with Gov. Ugwuanyi’s vision for ICT and technical skills acquisition for employment generation and wealth creation.
Kama said that Enugu State had been rated the highest academic hub of the Southern Nigeria over the years.
He said that the state was hosting over 10 indigenous Universities, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education which turned out main first class and second class graduates in the areas of Mathematics, Sciences and Engineering Technology among others.
The Commissioner said that some of the graduates had gone abroad for sophisticated skills acquisition, adding that the Enugu State Technology Hub intended to drive technology innovation down home.
“It is designed to discourage our youths from travelling to Lagos, India, China, other countries, to acquire technical skills that would enable them fit into the modem society and compete favourably with other professionals.
“Those skills you travel abroad to acquire, will be at your doorsteps,” he said.
According to him, the hub will not only groom them, it will also provide a ‘ Technological Cluster for Tech Start Ups’ for those who want to own businesses but may not have enough capital to rent offices and start up.
“It will create enabling atmosphere for them to start businesses with ease,” he said.
Kama noted that the targeted candidates for the programmes were graduates of Universities and Polytechnic, who wanted to make a career in professional ICT and technology related disciplines.
He said that non graduates with some technical skills, entrepreneurs and prospective farmers and artisans would also be accommodated.
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