Kwara Governor Inaugurates Ilorin Union’s Skills Acquisition Hub

Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has inaugurated the Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari Skills Acquisition Hub.

The event formed part of the activities marking the 60th annual conference of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union( IEDPU).

The hub, an initiative of the IEDPU, was bankrolled by the governor who is the Sardauna of Ilorin.
The senior adviser and counsellor, Alh Saadu Salahu commissioned the multi – million naira project located within the IEDPU secretariat , Garin Alimi area, Ilorin, on behalf of the governor.

AbdulRazaq expressed delight that “ Ilorin is regaining its status as a major capital city in Nigeria. Just recently, Ilorin was ranked among the first 10 Nigerian cities in the area of technology and innovation. As a matter of fact, our tech economy is now worth over $20m dollars, up from below $1m less than six years ago. Huge private and public sector investments are also going into real estate, creative, and hospitality industries.

“ My dream as your son and governor of Kwara State is to make this city one of the first five (5) in Nigeria in infrastructure, urban renewal, economic viability, innovation and technology, and sustainable living.

“ It is doable, and we are many steps into the journey already. We are aggressively renewing and expanding the infrastructure across our state, including in the capital city Ilorin. For instance, between 2024 and now, we have completed 45 roads across Kwara Central totalling 77.39km, while 11 others are ongoing. The ongoing road projects are 72.522kms. These are things you can see for yourself if you move around Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West. “

He announced to the applause of his audience that close to 2,000 armed forest guards would be unveiled on Saturday to complement the existing efforts and curtail the activities of hostile actors and terrorists in parts of the state.

Earlier, the national president of IEDPU, Alh AbdulMumini AbdulMalik, had acknowledged and thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his numerous supportive interventions for the union over the years.

“I am happy to inform this gathering that, His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State , true to his promise, has assisted the union to complete the physical structure of our Skills Acquisition Hub, which has been named Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari Complex, in honour of our royal father, His Highness, the Emir of Ilorin .”

He said the union would need a lot of money to purchase the equipment needed for the training of the youths at the Skills Acquisition Centre, soliciting the governor’s further support in that regard.

The chief launcher, Dr AbdulHakeem Oyeniyi announced a donation of N50 million.

In an emotion – laden voice, Oyeniyi recalled how the mother of Governor AbdulRazaq rescued him from the state of hopelessness by providing him shelter when he first arrived in Abuja some years back.