By 9japarrot
The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the state into a premier digital and creative powerhouse, following a massive convergence of industry stakeholders, policy makers, and thousands of young tech enthusiasts in the state capital.
The declaration was made during the official opening of the second edition of the KwaraKre8 Creative Workshop (KwaraKre8ives 2.0) held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, under a strategic drive to position the creative industry as a major driver of youth empowerment and subnational economic growth.
The workshop, convened by the Creative Lead of KwaraKre8, Adebisi Onifoto, served as a rallying point for digital professionals across photography, videography, cinematography, and content creation, with key insights drawing from the latest National Creative Economy Report indicating that the sector contributes approximately 3.5% to Nigeria’s GDP, valued at over $4 billion annually.
Delivering his address at the event, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, expressed delight at the massive energy displayed by the participants, noting that the reality of the post-COVID global economy proves that young Nigerians can successfully work for international markets from anywhere in the world using digital skills.
Governor AbdulRazaq, who praised Onifoto as an exemplary and impactful youth leader, revealed that because the current Ilorin Innovation Hub is already operating at 99% capacity, his administration has finalized plans to construct an identical extension on the site, alongside scaling out new regional hubs across Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts.
“In supporting you to establish yourself means we are supporting ourselves. We are going to become taxpayers, we are going to become employers of labor, we are going to lead in this day, work for the youth and create a dynamic economy for the state. This is the leading intellectual hub in Nigeria, not because of the building, but because of you guys that would make this thing work,” the Governor stated.
He urged the participants to maximize the technical knowledge gained, learn from initial startup failures, and maintain professional integrity toward their mentors.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hon. Ayo Adeagbo, delivered a keynote address reflecting the Federal Government’s collaborative support through the Renewed Hope agenda. This aligns with the vision of the Honourable Minister for Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, to provide critical tech working tools to outstanding grassroots talents.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Convener, Adebisi Onifoto, extended his profound gratitude to both the state and federal governments, as well as the Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, for consistently expanding the execution scale of the initiative since its inception in 2025.
The event featured an emotional moment when a 15-year-old student and lifestyle content creator, Niniola Olarewaju, delivered a live testimony detailing how the professional gear including a laptop, camera, and smartphone donated to her by the state government during the inaugural KwaraKre8 1.0 edition fundamentally transformed her career path.
9japarrot reports that the workshop commenced its technical tracks with an opening presentation by the Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, who lectured the thousands of participants on navigating the creative economy in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This was immediately followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring the Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, alongside prominent industry figures including Shola Rahman, Barr. Tope Salami, and celebrated photographer Bayo Omoboriowo, with Mrs. Sharon anchoring the interactive session.
More visuals from the event;
