Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s ambition to achieve a $1 trillion economy is fundamentally linked to providing widespread, high-quality internet access to its citizens, particularly the youth, according to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
Speaking at the launch of the Fibre-to-Hostel project at the University of Abuja on Wednesday, Minister Tijani reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to connecting all educational institutions across the country to reliable, high-speed internet. He stated that while the initiative is starting with approximately 12 universities, the goal is to connect all educational institutions within “several months.”
“It’s an unrepentant transformation,” Tijani said, emphasising that this infrastructure would enable a “modern way of learning.” He praised President Bola Tinubu’s vision for economic growth, stressing the direct link between connectivity and opportunity. “If we grow a Nigeria that is truly a $1tn economy, it means that for the teeming youth population, we have job opportunities for you,” he added.
Tijani described internet access as both an enabler and a leveller, offering equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s background. He highlighted that current technology provides young Nigerians unprecedented access to knowledge, allowing them to “access knowledge that we couldn’t access when we were young.” To inspire students, he shared success stories of Nigerian tech entrepreneurs who emerged from modest beginnings.
Regarding the government’s broader pledge to expand nationwide internet access, the minister stated, “We want every Nigerian to have access to a minimum of 25 Mbps regardless of where they live. What you have here today is meant to give you a minimum of 50 to 100 Mbps, more than what we’ve actually promised to the entire country.” He urged students to hold internet service providers accountable, encouraging them to report any service failures directly to him via social media.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the Fibre-to-Hostel initiative as the beginning of many transformative projects aimed at improving Nigeria’s education sector. He urged young Nigerians to capitalise on these opportunities, commending President Tinubu’s leadership for difficult decisions that have led to infrastructure improvements, economic stability, and enhanced security. Mr. Alausa underscored education as society’s foundation, emphasizing that high-speed internet in hostels would facilitate access to digital resources, research, and collaboration, ultimately enhancing the quality of education.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), Patricia Manko-Lar, lauded the visionary leadership of both ministers. She specifically praised the Galaxy Backbone initiative for providing high-speed internet access, noting its potential to bridge the digital divide and enhance learning. Manko-Lar also expressed gratitude for broader government investments, citing 24-hour electricity from a solar mini-grid project now complementing the new digital connectivity
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