Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has pledged to establish an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) laboratory at the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), Ogun State.

The governor said that the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen digital skills development and promote innovation among Nigerian students.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Kaula, who announced this in a statement in Katsina, said that Mr Radda made the commitment on Tuesday at the institution’s 23rd convocation lecture.

According to him, Mr Radda, represented by his deputy, Faruq Lawal-Jobe, spoke on the theme “Digital Literacy: Fundamental Skills and Job Creation Tools for Graduands in the 21st Century.”

Mr Kaula explained that Mr Radda, who was also conferred with a fellowship award by the institution, described the honour as a call to greater responsibility.

He stated that the governor has dedicated the recognition to the people of Katsina and Nigerians at large, noting that their continued support inspires his commitment to public service.

He said, “I commit to using this honour to drive positive change and knowledge sharing.”

According to him, Mr Radda emphasised that digital literacy has become a critical tool for young Nigerians seeking meaningful employment and economic relevance in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

He noted that Nigeria’s population of over 200 million represents a vast reservoir of human capital that can be transformed into economic strength through strategic investment in digital education.

Highlighting Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem, Mr Radda said the country currently ranks among Africa’s leaders in unicorn startups, companies valued at over $1 billion, and is demonstrating its capacity to compete globally.

He urged graduating students to adapt to the changing nature of work driven by technological advancement, explaining the transition from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR).

According to him, while automation and artificial intelligence under 4IR displaced millions of jobs globally, they also created even more opportunities, resulting in a net gain.

Mr Radda explained that the emerging 5IR era places greater emphasis on human-machine collaboration, creativity, empathy and innovation, rather than just data processing.

At the state level, he highlighted the Katsina Youth Craft Village as a key intervention designed to promote skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and innovation among young people.

“The government provides the infrastructure for the digital economy, but individuals and institutions must take responsibility for acquiring and applying the necessary skills,” he added.

Mr Radda called on all tiers of government, the private sector and development partners to intensify investment in digital education and youth empowerment as a pathway to economic growth.

He commended the university’s transformation from a polytechnic into a full-fledged institution, describing it as a significant milestone in expanding access to quality technical education in Nigeria. 

(NAN)