News from Punch highlights that the Kwara State Government's Ilorin Smart City project will require an estimated N1.72 trillion for completion, according to the state's Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Olusegun Ogunsola.

Speaking at a two-day workshop organized by the state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors in Ilorin, Dr. Ogunsola revealed that the Ilorin Smart City initiative will significantly transform the state capital through massive infrastructure upgrades and environmental remodelling. The project is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance urban development and promote sustainable living in Kwara State.

The theme of the workshop is “Embracing Innovation: Leveraging Industry 4.0 Technologies for Enhanced Quantity Surveying Practices.”

Speaking on providing sustainable housing, urban renewal initiatives and sustainable urban development, Ogunsola said that Ilorin smart city development will transform the state capital with comprehensive infrastructure and would provide a green environment for the metropolis.

He said, “11,000 hectares of land with an investment of N1.72 trillion will transform the city with the Kwara state government providing N60 billion while 58.5 per cent of the available land will generate revenue of N450million per hectare.

“Ilorin Smart City will be developed under a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) with the provision of massive infrastructure while Energy solutions will also be provided.

“In the next 50 years, professionals in the state will be fully engaged,” the Commissioner stated.

The state chairman of NIQS, Dr Ranti Adebiyi said that the workshop was organized to equip Surveyors in the state with modern technological skills so as to be able to cope with modern development going on in the country.

“The two-day workshop is to equip Surveyors in the state with modern technological skills and avail them with the various transformations going on in the state and to make them be abreast with the 4.0 technologies going on across the world for enhanced Quantity Surveying Practices”, she said.

Adebiyi said that many IT experts and other professionals were invited from different parts of the country to share their knowledge with members of the institute and equip them with modern technological practices so as to improve survey practice in the state.