By Mohammed Funsho Abdullahi (MFA)
For generations, many young graduates in Kwara State regarded government employment as the surest path to financial security. But that familiar economic story is beginning to change as Governor AbdulRahman Abdul Razaq’s investment in digital innovation opens new opportunities for young people to compete, create and earn beyond Nigeria’s borders.
At the centre of this emerging transformation is the Ilorin Innovation Hub, developed through a partnership between the Kwara State Government and IHS Towers. The facility combines digital infrastructure, collaborative workspaces, technology training and entrepreneurship support, providing young people with the skills and environment to participate in an increasingly borderless global economy.
Consider the possibilities. A graduate living in Ilorin could develop software for a company in the United States, provide customer support to a business in London or manage digital operations for an organisation in Canada. With artificial intelligence, software development and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) creating new opportunities worldwide, what matters increasingly is not where a person lives, but the skills and value they can offer.
The figures emerging from the hub are encouraging.
Since its inception, it has recorded more than 40,000 visits, with approximately 150 daily workspace users and overall traffic averaging 400 on non-event days.
During major events, attendance can exceed 1,000, reflecting growing interest in the opportunities available within the facility.
More significantly, 171 young people are currently undergoing specialised training in Artificial Intelligence engineering, preparing for opportunities that could earn them as much as $2,000 monthly (nearly #3,000,000) upon successful completion and entry into suitable employment. Over 2,800 participants have received entrepreneurship training through the Development Bank of Nigeria programme, while more than 500 others are enrolled in diverse training programmes. The hub has also showcased 19 startups, with N160 million in startup funding recorded.
Behind these figures are young people whose ambitions are being transformed by access to practical skills, professional networks and opportunities to develop innovative solutions. The hub is not simply preparing participants to seek employment; it is also encouraging them to establish businesses and create opportunities for others.
One such beneficiary is Abdulsamad Taiwo, a fellow of the Learn2Earn programme, who is acquiring skills in software engineering, Al-powered development, problem-solving, teamwork and product development. For him, the experience has gone beyond classroom learning to applying knowledge to real-life challenges.
“One thing I really appreciate about the IlorinInnovations Hub is that it encourages us to go beyond just learning and actually put our skills into practice by building things that solve real problems,” he explains.
Taiwo is developing SoloBiz, an application designed to help small business owners manage sales, inventory, expenses and overall business performance. He is also working on a digital waste management system aimed at making waste management easier and more efficient through technology. Both projects demonstrate how young innovators can turn acquired skills into practical solutions with commercial potential.
Beyond technical training, the hub has provided Taiwo with opportunities to showcase his ideas, receive feedback, collaborate with other innovators and develop confidence in his abilities. His ambition has consequently expanded from becoming a software developer to building products and establishing a technology business.
“Before joining the Hub, my focus was mainly on becoming a good software developer. But being here has made me realise that I can do much more than just write code. I can build products, solve problems, and even create opportunities for other people,” Taiwo emphasized.
The experiences of other beneficiaries also illustrate the wider promise of the initiative. In an economy where conventional employment cannot absorb every graduate, the ability to develop marketable skills, build products and establish enterprises offers an alternative path to financial independence. For families, it also means that young people can access specialised training and explore rewarding careers without necessarily relocating to larger commercial centres.
The economic benefits could extend well beyond individual beneficiaries. A young professional earning income from an international client while living in Ilorin can spend and invest locally, supporting businesses and creating demand for goods and services. Successful startups can also generate employment, attract investment and contribute to the growth of a more diverse private-sector economy.
This is particularly important for Kwara’s economic diversification. By developing a pool of skilled professionals and supporting emerging enterprises, the state is strengthening its potential to attract technology companies, outsourcing firms and investors seeking talent and suitable operating environments.
When the hub commenced its programmes in February 2025, the state and its partners outlined a target of creating 10,000 direct and indirect jobs over the following years. The expanding training programmes, startup activities and growing use of the facility demonstrate the foundations being laid towards that ambition.
And perhaps that is the most interesting prospect of all. Kwara’s next big export may not be something harvested from its farms, extracted from the ground or transported across the country’s borders. It may be the knowledge, creativity and skills of a young person sitting behind computer in Ilorin, developing products and delivering value to businesses and customers around the world.
The talent can remain in Kwara. The services can reach the world. And the economic benefits can return home. That is the future Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq’s investment in the Ilorin Innovation Hub is helping to make possible.
Abdullahi is the National Publicity Secretary of City Boy Movement
