Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has urged students of Kwara State University (KWASU) to grab the opportunities in modern technology and entrepreneurship, to make them job creators and self-reliant.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, in a statement on Sunday said Abdulrazaq spoke with the students via zoom at the grand finale of KWASULearn, a virtual holiday platform.
“The platform was organised to take students through the rudiments of entrepreneurship, community development, leadership, innovation, and modern technology,” Ajakaye said.
He quoted the governor as saying the initiative was laudable.
“It is coming at the right time to deepen engagements on critical issues we should be having in order not to be left behind in the global surge for ideas in the new economy.
“It aligns with our focus as an administration to drive investment and development in innovation and technology to achieve sustainable growth and development.
“We are not creating the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Visual Arts Centre, and the Garment Production Factory for nothing.
“These are significant projects in Nigeria and Africa showing Kwara’s resolve to become the go-to-state in Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation in the near future.
“Now, KWASU is at the centre of it, especially the visual arts and film industry, the University and the students have in the hub a platform for earning and learning firsthand from professionals from across the continents.
“This is as we ramp up efforts in fixing the campuses in Osi and Ilesha Baruba which had been abandoned,” Abdulrazaq said.
He added that his administration was providing suitable environment for young people to thrive on the strength of their skills and ideas.
“The reality is that civil service cannot create (all) the jobs they need and it is even not sustainable.
“It is the time to encourage young people to leverage on technology to earn honest living, even from the comfort of their homes.
“It is time young people brought their ingenuities to bear to develop IT- solutions to our national problems.
“As a state, we remain committed to supporting our brilliant and talented youths, in their drive for innovation and technology to put Kwara on the world map through industry and enterprise,” the governor said.
Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Executive Director of Torchbearers Impact Network (TIN), said the platform had been established to equip the students with skills and knowledge to position them for better opportunities in the knowledge economy.
He said the programme was timed to enable the students make the best of the holiday through engagements with top-rated sociopolitical leaders, saying learning from their experiences and ideas would impact positively on young people in career and leadership.
It was reported that KWASULearn organised by TIN was designed to equip students on holiday with knowledge and skills on Community Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Advocacy, Entertainment, and Technology.