By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
The Federal Government has commissioned a TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative-backed ICT Experience Centre at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, to equip Nigerian youths with digital skills needed to thrive in a modern and competitive world
Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was represented at the commissioning on Tuesday by the wife of the Vice-President, Nana Shettima, said the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly its focus on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation
She said the President was committed to creating opportunities that would equip Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills required to compete in a rapidly changing world
According to her, the ICT Experience Centre was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing education, promoting digital inclusion and enhancing graduate employability
“The TETFund/Renewed Hope Initiative ICT Experience Centre we are commissioning today represents opportunity, innovation, knowledge and the future of young people in Kwara State and beyond,” she said
She explained that the facility was designed as a modern technology centre equipped with an ICT laboratory, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces to provide an environment for learning, creativity, research and technological advancement
KWASU is one of six tertiary institutions selected for the pilot phase of the intervention, with one institution representing each of the country’s six geopolitical zones
Tinubu said similar centres had been commissioned at Ekiti State University on May 28, University of Cross River State on September 4 and Anambra State Polytechnic on September 10
She added that the centres at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University would be commissioned soon
According to her, the next phase of the intervention would cover 15 institutions in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states, where construction is ongoing
She said the expansion demonstrated the administration’s commitment to ensuring that more Nigerian youths, regardless of their locations, had access to digital learning opportunities
Tinubu urged students to take ownership of the facility, maximise the opportunities it provides and use technology positively to improve their lives, communities and the nation
Earlier, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said his administration’s vision was to ensure that every young person in the state acquired the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in a changing world
He urged the university management to make judicious use of the facility, saying it should support students and help generate innovations, businesses, jobs and sustainable solutions to challenges facing communities
“Technology and digital skills now shape how we learn, work and create opportunities Our young people must, therefore, have access to the skills and techniques they need to compete anywhere in Nigeria and across the world,” AbdulRazaq said.
The governor said his administration would continue to invest in education and human capital development
He noted that the state had expanded KWASU into a multi-campus institution, with the completion of its Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses, while plans were underway for another campus in Ajase-Ipo
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Architect Sonny Echono, said the centres were being established across selected universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with KWASU hosting the facility for the North-Central zone
He said the initiative was designed to enhance graduate employability, foster innovation and position Nigeria to participate more effectively in the global technology-driven economy through practical training and digital skills acquisition
Echono said the ICT Experience Centre would equip students and lecturers with critical digital skills in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development
“The centre being commissioned today is one of the foremost ICT Experience Centres being delivered across the country, and the third to be commissioned this year,” he said
He added that the facility was equipped with modern digital devices, computer systems and relevant software to facilitate training, practical learning and skills development
The centre, according to him, was also furnished and fully air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure
The Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the facility as an investment in human capital, innovation, entrepreneurship and the future of Nigeria.
He said the centre would provide students with opportunities to develop practical digital skills and engage with contemporary technologies, while also serving as a hub for interdisciplinary engagement
“The centre represents vision, belief and an investment in the Nigerian youth to better shape the future of our nation,” Jimoh said