Date: 2021-08-31

Indigenes of Offa town in the Offa local government area of Kwara State, under the aegis of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), have commissioned a technology innovation hub to meet its smart city project by 2030.

Speaking at the unveiling of the project in Offa at the weekend, the national president of the ODU, Dr Funsho Oladipo, said part of the goals is to train 60,000 students/participants from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

"This project is coming in view of the preponderance of youths in Nigeria's demographic make-up.

"As an integral component of the park, the hub shall facilitate the transformation of Offa and its environs into a commercial smart city.

"This means it shall be the catalyst for the fundamental shift of the area into a viable and sustainable technology hub with a far-reaching economic impact in the country," he said.

ODU president, who described the event as a major landmark in the community, said that the hub which is the first phase of the project is expected to revolutionize and transform the community in digital and innovative solutions.

According to him, the One Innovation Hub coined from the phrase Offa and environs on completion, shall be equipped with five production zones.

Oladipo said the hub would cater for entrepreneurs who would be engaged in the processing of agricultural products, solid minerals, production of polymer-based products and creative industry ventures.

In his remark, the chairman, Project Implementation Committee and former Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Industry, Dr Waheed Olagunju, said the opportunities provided by the hub is limitless and one of the contributions to meeting the ODU Smart City Goal by 2030.

The ODU general secretary, Muideen Adebayo Ibrahim, said that the goal is to train 60,000 students/participants from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

"80 per cent of ICT literacy is guaranteed and the participants would be trained in line with modern skills and the technological trends which they will transfer to others."

He added that funding for the project has been by the ODU, individuals, corporate bodies and friends of the community.

In his remarks, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Hajia Mopelola Abdulrahman, said the hub will complement the one being built by the government in Ilorin and provide the youth opportunity of employment in this age of digital revolution.