The Ilorin Innovation Hub, a key project under construction and aimed to foster innovation and technological growth in Kwara State, is nearing completion, according to AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State.
According to the Governor, the facility has reached 95% completion. He attributed the delay in the completion to be a result of the need for the project to meet specific standards and promised that the facility was going to be one of the best in Africa to drive technology growth.
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State.
Governor: Ilorin Innovation Hub to promote tech growth in Kwara State
The facility which is expected to become a hub for youth development within the state, is part of the governments broader initiative to promote technology and ensure growth in the state.
According to the Kwara State Governor, the Innovation Hub “will drive increased technological growth in Africa and provide opportunities for millions of young people.”
Construction of the facility began in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrated the importance of online services and technology. The state government recognised the need to equip youths with digital skills to give them a better chance in the global workforce, he says.
According to the Governor, the facility has reached 95% completion. He attributed the delay in the completion to be a result of the need for the project to meet specific standards and promised that the facility was going to be one of the best in Africa to drive technology growth.
“Work has reached an advanced stage,” the Governor says. “I can tell you that once this place is commissioned, it will be one of the best in Africa, in terms of building and contents. It will drive growth in the tech space.”
Despite the slow pace of the construction, AbdulRazaq expressed his satisfaction, stressing that the delay in the process was necessary due to the high-quality content the facility was going to be equipped with.
“The facility would also be powered through solar energy to make power sustainable too. So we are on the right path” he adds.
Kwara State Government says it has partnered with public and private universities and polytechnics to equip students with skills such as Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine learning, Virtual reality, Graphic design, Social Media, Digital marketing, among others.
One of such partnerships is the partnership with IHS Towers, a telecoms infrastructure provider. Temi Kolawole, Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, adds that, “you can have a beautiful building, but if you don’t have quality content, you are going nowhere. We have IHS as a partner already. IHS was in Kwara, and by partnering with us, this building is sustainable in terms of operation.”
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