An initiative of the President Goodluck Jonathan, the SmartCity Innovation Hub technology project will create 50,000 direct employments in the next five years. The hub is designed to promote economic diversification and to move the country towards a knowledge-based economy.
The project is a bold move to bring together technology, government and society in ways that promote the culture of innovation and the competitiveness between allied businesses and knowledge-based institutions. Promoters of the SmartCity Innovation Hub include, the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology, National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria Computer Society and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.
The holding company for the project is SmartCity Resorts Plc, an investment and infrastructure company dedicated to creating modern real estate and infrastructure projects that allow people to live, work and relax in more pleasant and productive ways. Location of the SmartCity Innovation Hub is strategic and within same locality as the Pan Atlantic University, and proposed developments such as Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lekki International Airport, Deep Seaport Project and Dangote Petrochemical Project.
SmartCity Resorts Plc Chairman Mr. Demola Aladekomo said, “The SmartCity Innovation Hub is an A-grade technology development infrastructure which will prime the local technology industry for global competitiveness, galvanising it from crass consumerism towards innovation and world class manufacturing standards. Upon completion, it has the potential to create about 50,000 direct employments in its first five years. It will be the Nigerian equivalent of the Silicon Valley in the United States of America, which is home to many of the world’s largest technology corporations and thousands of tech start-up companies.”
President Jonathan has achieved a lot in terms of infrastructural development and job creation through the use of Public Private Partnership, helping move Nigeria forward.
