The Nigerian Government has equipped 900 youths in Enugu State with critical digital skills in emerging fields, including cybersecurity, data science, digital literacy and entrepreneurship.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi, said this while addressing participants at the ongoing Enugu Tech Festival 2026 (ETF 2.0).
The festival, themed “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” is scheduled to hold from Feb. 24 to Feb. 27.
Abdullahi said the initiative aligns with the Nigerian Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to nurture talent while strengthening digital capacity among young people for sustainable empowerment.
Represented by NITDA’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnership, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the Director-General noted that 50 of the 900 participants distinguished themselves through exceptional dedication, resilience and outstanding performance.
“These 50 young innovators will not just receive digital tools; they will be receiving instruments of transformation.
‘’These tools represent opportunity; they represent empowerment; they represent the confidence that Nigeria believes in them.
“But more importantly, they represent responsibility the responsibility to build solutions, create value, and to transform communities.
“This is the new energy of Enugu. Not coal, but code. Not extraction, but innovation. Not limitation, but possibility and this is only the beginning,” he said.
Creating Pathways
Abdullahi also said that NITDA would continue to create pathways for young Nigerians to build globally competitive solutions.
He further said that the government also provided platforms like Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, the largest government-led tech event in Nigeria and GITEX Nigeria.
“Where innovators can showcase their ideas to global investors, attract funding, and expand beyond national borders. The message is clear: your innovation can go global.
“To the young people here today, who will be the recipient of these digital tools, I want you to understand something profound: you are not just learning skills you are shaping the future,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, urged youths to take advantage of all digital trainings, conferences and inter-connectivity involving tech-innovation.
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Maida lauded Governor Peter Mbah’s vision of building Enugu State’s future advance on technology and Artificial Intelligence-driven infrastructure in security, education, administration, judiciary and health.
“You must keep supporting your governor, His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, for his vision and foresight into tech-innovation and encouraging youths to be passionate about digitalisation, tech-innovation and be problem solvers,” he said.
Brand new laptops were presented to 50 trainees that completed their digital programme.
NAN