Ekiti To Create 26,000 Jobs Through ‘Knowledge Zone’

Ekiti State government has said that the ongoing Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) project was designed to position the state to fully benefit from the global technological shift.

The State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who stated this at the Ikogosi Resort during a stakeholders’ engagement workshop on the EKZ project, said part of the project’s benefits are the generation of over 26,000 direct and indirect jobs and the injection of over $14 million into the state’s economy annually.

The governor said his government firmly believes that the prosperity of Ekiti State would be built on the strength of its people, their talents, creativity, resilience and intelligence.

Represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Governor Oyebanji said, “That is why this initiative was conceived as a hub where government, academia, innovators, and the private sector can work together to solve real problems, accelerate public-sector transformation and create new economic opportunities for our young people.

“My vision for the state is one where many young Ekiti people can work for global companies without leaving their communities. We will continue to provide an enabling environment not only to make the Knowledge Zone a success, but to make the entire State a model of progress and achievement.”

Describing the stakeholders’ engagement as a proactive step aimed at ensuring effective collaboration among all participants, he maintained that the programme will help build trust, promote innovation and guarantee long-term success by harnessing diverse perspectives and preventing avoidable conflicts.

The governor who called for participants active engagement in the workshop, emphasized the need for each stakeholder, both individually and collectively, to understand and play their roles in achieving the project’s goals, stressing that every institution must align with the shared vision, especially as the world continues to advance rapidly, driven by data, artificial intelligence, cutting-edge research, and digital innovation.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Dr Moyo Ekundayo, stressed the importance of developing problem-solving software and applications that genuinely add value to society.

He urged relevant stakeholders to look beyond academic certificates and focus instead on how they can make meaningful contributions to societal development.

Dr Ekundayo also encouraged parents and guardians to give their children and wards the freedom to pursue courses they are passionate about, noting that this would help ensure their long-term fulfilment and satisfaction.

Also, the project coordinator of EKZ, Ms Lolade Olutola, noted that the workshop marked a significant milestone in positioning Ekiti as a premier destination for innovation, technology, research, enterprise development and talent competitiveness.