Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, on Wednesday revealed that the Federal Government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 per cent of them will be based in the northern part of the country.

The goal, according to him, is to close the existing connectivity gap and to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.

The Minister, who was speaking in Katsina State during the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0, hosted by the state government, further announced that the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network, aimed at connecting every corner of Nigeria, remains one of Federal Government’s biggest investments in the digital space.

“Under president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, we have focus on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity,” Tijani said.

“One of our biggest investments in the digital space is the 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic network aimed at connecting every corner of the country.

“In addition to this, the government is preparing investments in 70,000 telecommunications towers of which over 80 percent of them will be based in the Northern part of Nigeria to close the existing connectivity gap. Our goal is to make Nigeria the most inclusive digital economy in Africa where no community is left behind.

He noted that, under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, his Ministry has focused on foundational initiatives that can unlock national productivity.

“This tech festival today is not just an event, it has a strong signal from Katsina, the Arewa states and a signal that Arewa is ready.

“I therefore challenge participants, particularly the innovators in the room, that you don’t need to move to Lagos or Abuja to be successful, all you need is also not to wait for formation, because all you need is yourself and your formation.

“We are building a Nigeria that works for everyone in a nation where being born in Katsina or Kano is not at the disadvantage but a strategic advantage.

“The future of Nigeria and that of Africa is not being written in the silicon valley of Lagos or Abuja but being written right here today in Katsina,” he said.

Tijani advised young people to showcase their innovations for investors and philanthropists to see what they can do to assist them.

One of the participants, Jafar Alabi, advised colleagues to embrace artificial intelligence in their works in order to move forward and not be left behind.

Earlier in an interview, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr Muttaka Rabe Darma, said he expects a lot of positive changes at the end of the festival where participants are expected to develop solutions to lingering socioeconomic and security challenges facing Katsina State.

He believes that at the end of the day, Katsina State will be the greatest beneficiary and will transit from the analog economy to digital one.

About 10,000 technology investors and technology initiators attended the Arewa Tech Fest 2.0 which is the second version of its kind.

The first version of the festival tagged: “Innovating for Impact”: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Transformation, took place last year in Kano State with a resounding success, with stakeholders poised to ensure that they triple the success of Kano in Katsina State.

The main objective of this festival is to transform Katsina from analog to digital state and to make it a technology driven economy which is obtainable in the developed countries around the world.

An open invitation was hitherto extended to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government institutions, academia, development partners, media, and the general public to take part in this historic festival.

Participants cut across from 19 Northern States including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja gathered not only to share success stories regarding the tech fest but also to share failures, challenges and setbacks faced in the course of their digital journey.