The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, has lamented the looting and destruction of a technology hub in Kano State by protesters, just few days before its scheduled launch.
The Digital Innovation Park, designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator programme (3MTT), was said to have been set ablaze and looted during the protests on Thursday, 1 August, 2024.
“Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X on Thursday, I August, 2024.
The incident occurred as part of wider unrest in Kano, where protesters targeted the yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission Industrial Park.
Tijani highlighted the immediate impact of this destruction on planned initiatives.
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week,” he added.
The minister described the damage as a setback for the journey to deepening the workforce for technology and creating job opportunities for the youth.
“Millions of Naira down the drain,” Tijani said.