Communications Minister Urges Youth to Leverage Innovation Hubs for National Growth

Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has urged young innovators to leverage available resources and innovative facilities to develop practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.

Dr. Tijani made this call during a visit to the UNDP Innovation Hub in Lagos, where he was hosted by Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria.

He underscored the importance of innovation hubs such as the UNDP Innovation Hub in promoting creativity, strengthening the complexity of our economy, and diversifying our country’s pathway to prosperity.

The Minister said: “I am reminded of the early days at the Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) in Yaba, where a group of passionate minds came together to build what we now know as TechCabal.

“It was in that same space that initiatives like BudgIT, which has transformed transparency in governance, and LifeBank, which has revolutionized the delivery of medical supplies, were born. Startups at CcHUB were also among the first to implement Pay With Capture, now known as Flutterwave.

“And, of course, it was a conversation between Iyin Aboyeji and a few others that sparked the creation of Andela, a company that has trained some of the brightest minds in Africa, with its first fellows trained at CcHUB.

“These are not just success stories; they are proof of what happens when we come together. It is this collaborative spirit that strengthens the complexity of our economy and diversifies our pathways to prosperity.”

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The Minister, who was joined on the visit by the Swedish Foreign Minister, H.E Tobias Billstrom, used the occasion to commend the leadership and foresight of the UNDP for their continued investment in the critical infrastructure needed for socio-economic development in Africa.

“The UNDP’s commitment is a testament to the belief in our continent’s potential and the power of innovation to drive sustainable development,” he remarked.

Dr. Tijani charged the end users of the state-of-the-art facility to be audacious in their pursuit of solutions.

“To the innovators here today, and to those who will benefit from this investment in the future, I say this: our continent needs you. You are the hope and the solution to the many challenges we face. Dream, and dream big. Be audacious in your pursuit of solutions. Know that you have a partner in us, committed to supporting you on the path to collective prosperity for Africa,” he said.

The event was attended by notable personalities and stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, including H.E. Annika Hahn-Englund, Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, and Tubosun Alake, Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science & Technology.