Ilorin Innovation Hub
By Favour Unukaso
KWARA State and IHS, a leading towerco, are hoping to see the new Ilorin innovation hub creates 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria, focusing on digital skills, artificial intelligence, agricultural technology, and energy innovation in the next few years.
They made this known Thursday in Ilorin, Kwara State, at the Kickoff of Programmes the hub.
The Ilorin innovation hub, covering a land area of over 13,000 sqm, with seating capacity for over 1,000 users, has been designed and built as an ecosystem to help nurture creative talents, drive technological innovations, entrepreneurship, and overall economic growth across Kwara State in particular, and Nigeria in general.
It is aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of investing in the digital economy to stimulate local industries, enhance competitiveness, increase productivity and provide millions of Nigerians with new skills, as well as long-term employment and wealth creation opportunities.
While the official commissioning is scheduled for a later date, the Chief Executive Officer, IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish, said the partnership with the Kwara State Government to bring the hub to life is a testament to the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Government and IHS Nigeria to supporting local innovation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs, developers, and business leaders.
Darwish said the hub is more than just an edifice, saying it is an ecosystem designed to nurture creativity, equip young innovators with critical skills, and provide them with the resources they need to build scalable, impactful solutions.
“Unicorns are emerging globally, so, the question to ask is “Why not from Ilorin, Kwara State?”. With state-of-the-art infrastructure, co-working spaces, accelerator programmes, and access to mentorship and funding, this hub will serve as a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas that will shape the future of Nigeria’s digital economy,” he stated.
Head of Digital Health Innovations, Co-creation Hub (CcHub), Stephanie Okpere (left); Chief Executive Officer, Future Africa, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji; Chief Executive Officer, IHS Nigeria, Mohamad Darwish; and Managing Director, Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, during the press conference announcing the program kickoff at the Ilorin Innovation Hub today, February 27, 2025, in Ilorin, Kwara State.
According to him, the hope is to have 10,000 employers from the hub in the next few years.
Representing the Kwara State Governor, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mary Ayinde, said the state is becoming innovative, stressing that connectivity is key and the state will do anything to ensure it is tech-driven.
The Chief Operating Officer of IHS, Kazeem Oladepo, said with the hub, more businesses are targeted to come out from Kwara State, saying that jobs will be created.
Oladepo noted that as part of their commitment, IHS Nigeria is working with two programme managers, Co-creation Hub (CcHub) and Future Africa, to facilitate the rollout of programmes aimed at empowering startups, businesses, and young innovators with the tools to succeed in the digital economy.
He said CcHub, a leading pan-African creative and innovation ecosystem enabler will design and implement sustainable models to help build capacity for innovation, support top innovators and startups in the region, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem, further helping attract and connect key players.
According to him, Future Africa will oversee the implementation of three key programmes, including; Advanced Technical Leadership Training, Corporate Innovation and Accelerator Programme; and Ecosystem Development and Mentorship Initiative.