NCC Donates ICT Hub to Transport University Daura to Drive Digital Innovation in Education
By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, officially handed over a state-of-the-art ICT Park (ICT PAC) to the Muhammadu Buhari Federal University of Transportation, Daura. The event, held in the historic town of Daura, marked a significant step toward fostering digital innovation and technology-driven learning in Nigeria’s transport sector.
Dr. Maida, a native of Katsina State, expressed pride in returning to his home state to deliver what he described as a “landmark and symbolic project” of national importance. The ICT Park, developed by the NCC, is intended to serve as a hub for innovation, digital entrepreneurship, and research in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things.
“In today’s fast-evolving global economy, technology is one of the greatest drivers of transformation,” Maida stated. “Our ICT Parks, rightly described as ‘one roof, all possibilities,’ are designed as incubation centers where ideas are transformed into market-ready solutions, in line with the national digital economy policy and strategy.”
The facility features multidisciplinary resources, including simulation rooms, smart networking systems, collaborative workspaces, and high-capacity server rooms—all aimed at enhancing research and development in transportation technology and other ICT-related fields.
The ICT Park aligns with the vision of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, led by Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani, and supports the NCC’s mandate to bridge Nigeria’s digital gap and enhance socio-economic growth through inclusive technological advancement.
Established in 2023, the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, is Nigeria’s—and Africa’s—first higher institution dedicated exclusively to transportation education. The university was conceived during the 2018 Lagos-Calabar railway modernization project and was approved by the National Universities Commission to begin academic activities in the 2023–2024 session.
Speaking at the event, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Adam Umar Katsayal, expressed gratitude for the facility and noted that it had already been in use for critical university activities, including meetings, trainings, and student engagements.
“We have even begun using this ICT Centre before the official handover,” Professor Katsayal said. “It is well-equipped and has already hosted the University Council, consultants, and students. We see this not only as an asset for the university but also for the surrounding communities.”
He further emphasized the university’s commitment to ensuring the ICT Park benefits not only students and staff but also neighboring communities through various educational initiatives, research opportunities, and corporate social responsibility programmes such as WAEC and JAMB registration assistance.
The Vice Chancellor also assured Dr. Maida and the NCC that the facility would be utilized judiciously, promising that its impact would be evident upon future inspections.
“This building will serve generations to come. We assure you that by the time you visit again, you’ll be proud of how well it has been used,” he concluded.
The handover represents a significant step toward integrating ICT infrastructure into Nigeria’s educational institutions and advancing the nation's transport and technology sectors.
