Bosun Tijani Commissions NITDA Innovation Hub at OAU

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, on Monday commissioned the Renewed Hope NITDA Innovation Hub at Obafemi Awolowo University, as part of efforts by the Federal Government and the National Information Technology Development Agency to strengthen digital innovation, research, and technology development among students, researchers, and innovators in Nigeria.

The facility, unveiled in partnership with NITDA, comprises ultra-modern digital laboratories designed to provide students, lecturers, researchers, and innovators with access to advanced technological tools and practical learning opportunities.

Speaking during the commissioning, Dr. Tijani said the project was established to bridge the gap between theory and practical innovation while supporting Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.

“The main goal in establishing these labs is to provide students, lecturers, researchers, and innovators with access to modern digital tools that can help them move from theory to practical solutions,” he said.

“This facility will aggressively support Nigeria's digital economy by building local capacity in technologies that are shaping the future of education, industry, agriculture, health, and public service delivery.”

Chairman of the Governing Council of OAU, Adejare Bello, described the project as a major milestone for the university.

“This is a monumental milestone for Great Ife. By equipping our community with these world-class facilities, we are ensuring that OAU remains at the forefront of academic excellence and societal impact,” he said.

“We are not just preparing our students for the job market; we are empowering them to create the market.”

Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Adebayo Simeon Bamire, said the laboratories would significantly strengthen teaching, research, and innovation within the institution.

“For our university, these labs will fundamentally strengthen teaching, research, and innovation. It gives our brilliant lecturers the power to demonstrate modern technology concepts practically, while giving our students a dedicated space to build prototypes, test AI models, program robots, and develop creative solutions to real-life problems,” he said.

“This is where teamwork meets entrepreneurship.”

The innovation hub features four specialised laboratories designed to support emerging technologies and digital skills development.

The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is equipped with high-performance computers and cloud computing resources for training, testing, and deploying artificial intelligence and machine learning models.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Robotics Laboratory contains microcontrollers, sensors, communication boards, robotic arms, Raspberry Pi devices, and Arduino kits to support the development of smart and interconnected systems.

The Additive Manufacturing Laboratory provides facilities for designing and producing three-dimensional objects using advanced modelling software, industrial-grade 3D printers, and various printing materials.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Laboratory focuses on drone technology, offering facilities for drone operation, flight simulation, hardware testing, and safety training.

University officials noted that the facilities would serve as platforms for research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity building, while helping students develop practical skills required in today's technology-driven economy.