DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 7 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Tanzania aims to become a regional center for technological development with plans to establish digital innovation hubs across eight regions.
Minister of Information, Communications, and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, announced that the project has already commenced in Dar es Salaam and that the government aims to complete the initiative in the remaining seven regions by June 2025, focusing on renovating buildings that will serve as innovation hubs.
“Feasibility studies have been conducted, and we are in the final phase of securing contractors to renovate the buildings. Some of these are SIDO facilities, while others are government-owned. The goal is to create environments where young innovators can gather and receive the support they need,” said Silaa during a meeting with the ICT Commission Board.
On his part, Director of the ICT Commission, Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga, explained that the project was initiated in response to challenges faced by young graduates, particularly the lack of office space and resources to develop their innovations.
Additionally, Dr. Mwasaga outlined that innovators will have access to the hubs for an eight-month period, during which they will receive training to turn their ideas into marketable businesses. He said two of the hubs, located in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, will specialize in the development of ICT hardware.
He also added that the hubs will provide access to high-end equipment, often too costly for young entrepreneurs to purchase, supported by the government.
Mwasaga revealed that the ICT Commission has launched a project to establish computer labs in secondary schools, aiming to support students and other young people in nearby areas who have demonstrated potential in the technology sector.
He said the Commission’s broader goal is to extend these opportunities to more Tanzanians, starting at the regional level and expanding to districts and local communities, ensuring that innovation can thrive across the country. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
