IBM, International Business Machine plans to launch an innovation hub in Nigeria in Q1 2014 in a move to build Nigeria’s ICT capacity and serve the West African region.

The centre will also serve as IBM’s hub for the region.

The announcement was made by IBM’s President and Chief Executive Officer,  Ms. Virginaa Rometty, during her visit to Abuja Monday where she met Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson.

According to Rometty: “The hub will make for smatter transportation, smatter health and smarter education inside government. When it comes down to banking, we will have smatter banking solutions there; where people can learn what it means to have smarter banking.”

Rometty added that firms will use products and data from the hub to develop their businesses. The software incubation centre will also help telcos to use the data for performance  and determination of rates.

IBM was established in Nigeria since 1960 and is now shifting its focus on building smart cities and technologies in Africa, Nigeria being a priority.

Johnson said: “ What this innovation centre will do for us is to help us to begin to think about innovative and creative ways we can make ICT to bear in many of the challenges that we face today.”

Johnson added that the Nigerian government is cooperating with local entrepreneurs, IBM and other organizations to up ICT and governance  and positively drive the economy.