Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq says the Ilorin Innovation Hub will drive further technological growth in Africa and provide opportunities for millions of youth.
The centre is being built as a legacy project of the current administration in Kwara.
Mr AbdulRazaq said the project had reached 95 per cent progress despite a delay in ensuring compliance with specifications and standards.
When he visited the project site, the governor was speaking in Ilorin, the state capital, to take stock of the level of work done.
He was accompanied on the visit by the Hub's general manager, Temi Kolawole.
“The construction has reached an advanced stage. I can assure you that once this site is operational, it will be the best in Africa in terms of construction and content. It will boost growth in the technology sector,” Abdul Razaq told reporters.
“You can have a beautiful building, but if you don’t have quality content, you won’t get anywhere. We already have IHS as a partner. IHS was in Kwara and by partnering with us, this building is sustainable in terms of operation.
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“The facility would also be powered by solar energy so that the energy would be sustainable. So we are on the right track,” said the governor.
Mr AbdulRazaq said the slow pace of work on the project was to ensure the centre was competitive in terms of standards in Africa.
“It’s taking time, but it’s good to do it right; it’s also good to have the right partner to make the place work,” he said.
“We are in the last mile, everything is almost ready, approximately 95 percent is complete.”
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Mr. Kolawole, for his part, said the project will transform the Kwara economy “because it will bring globally competitive skills and the people of Kwara will merge with the global market.”
The governor also inspected the Kwara Hotels in Ilorin and the gateway to the Government House, both under reconstruction.