The Nigerian Government has been giving a serious nod to the power of technology and how it can totally rock the country's economy and society. The government, across boards, has been rolling out the red carpet for tech and tech talent in Nigeria. It's creating the perfect environment for them to thrive. It's like they're building a whole city made of ones and zeros!
Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM) aims to become Nigeria's MIT
Enugu State Government building 250 smart schools within 14 months
FG training 3 million Nigerians in tech within four years
Last year, the Buhari administration signed the Nigerian start-up into law, a step that will become the first of a couple more in driving tech inclusion within Nigeria. Then, in March, this year, the Osun State Government localized that act to attract startups to the state and build an enabling environment for techies. It’s the state’s first ICT policy and a few others, nationwide, will follow. A most recent development is the NUC accreditation of bachelor’s degree courses at the NUTM.
NUTM gets undergraduate degree accreditation to groom tech talents
In May 2023, The Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM) got its official university license from the Federal Executive Council following the Nigerian University Commission (NUC)’s recommendation. Consequently, the institution has the right to offer and award undergraduate degrees in science and tech disciplines. And commenting on the landmark achievement, the Chairman of the NUTM Governing Board, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah said: “NUTM is poised to become the premier STEM institution in Nigeria that will prepare young people to become change agents in Nigeria and beyond.”
Now, six months after that, the institution seems to be living up to its promise as it's now offering full undergraduate degree programs in the computer department, including BSc. Computer Science and BSc. cyber security and information technology.
Nubi Achebo, the university's academic director, revealed that the institution is in partnership with Oxford University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Indian Institute of Technology, and other best-in-class institutions, which permits joint programs and exchanges. The aim is to be among the top 50 STEM Universities in the world.
Enugu State projects 250 smart schools
In October, the Enugu State Government revealed that its administration will build over 250 smart schools across the 260 wards of the state. The aim is to ensure that even kids in remote parts of the state receive world-class education using modern learning tools. As of October, the Governor, Peter Mbah, revealed that the state has completed the construction of one smart school and that a contract has been awarded for nine more to be constructed.
Additionally, 250 smart schools will be constructed in the state within a period of 14 months. “The smart schools will be sufficiently equipped with internet access, solar power, a center for robotics and artificial intelligence, a modern ICT center, two well-equipped laboratories for primary school and junior secondary school, a studio for creative production, 25 inclusive classrooms, with interactive digital whiteboards, android tablets for pupils’ use, among others.” He said.
FG plans to produce 3 million tech talents in Nigeria by 2025
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, revealed plans to train 3 million Nigerians in tech skills by 2025. The technical training is in line with a promise by President Bola Tinubu to create 1 million jobs through tech in the first 24 months of his administration.
Bosun Tijani was at TechCabal’s Moonshoot Conference in October, where he talked about the Federal Government’s plan to reach 3 million Nigerians across all states: “We are using a 1-10-100-model. We are starting with 1% of our 3 million target and that will be for the first three months. And that 1% is going to be 30,000 people.”
The goal is tech inclusion, ultimately projected to drive economic growth through job opportunities and tech innovation. The timelines given for these projects will tell if they work or not. And in the future, if the migration wave will reduce —not because it’s getting more difficult to travel abroad, but because intending migrants will see no need to— then, we can thumb up. Rather than poaching and pulling talent to work and settle in foreign companies, foreign tech investment into the country will also indicate that these measures are working. Does it look like it is currently? Outright no. But the projects are long-term.
What’s impressive, anyway, is to see that tech inclusion —and the efforts towards it— is coming from the Government, not just private entities.