AbdulRazaq Rewards Student Innovators, Vows to Make Kwara Nigeria’s Tech Hub
By Abbas Badmus,
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the state into Nigeria’s leading hub for technology and innovation, as he rewarded outstanding student innovators at the Kwara Futures Exhibition 2025, held on Monday in Ilorin.
The event, themed “Kwara Futures: Empowering a Digitally Ready Generation,” showcased the creativity of young coders and inventors trained under the Kwara Coding and Digital Literacy Programme, a state-led initiative that has trained over 5,604 students across 50 public schools in all 16 local government areas between August 2024 and October 2025.
Governor AbdulRazaq, who presented cash prizes to top-performing schools, described the exhibition as a reflection of his government’s strategic vision to build a generation of digitally skilled problem-solvers ready for the global economy.
“Our administration is unwavering in its commitment to transforming Kwara into a beacon of technological excellence and empowering our youth to lead the digital revolution,” AbdulRazaq said.
“For the first time in our state’s history, Kwara is etching its name on the world map of digital startups, thanks to the innovative spirit of our entrepreneurs and the strategic policies we’ve implemented.”
At the competition, United Junior Secondary School, Ilorin, emerged overall winner of the 2025 Kwara Futures Innovation Challenge, taking home the N1 million grand prize. Ilorin Grammar School and Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Pakata, came second and third, winning N500,000 and N250,000, respectively.
The student teams presented an impressive array of projects including a Smart School Attendance System, Universal Report Card Generator, Weather Forecast App, Python-Based Banking Simulation, Expense Visualiser, and an Igbaja Farm Expense Tracker App—innovations that earned wide praise from judges and industry stakeholders.
AbdulRazaq commended Hon. Kayode Ishola, his Special Assistant on Digital Innovations, for spearheading the initiative, describing the programme as a “legacy project” that bridges the gap between education and opportunity.
“Young techies, your vision is our blueprint,” the governor told the students. “Together, we’ll ensure Kwara doesn’t just appear on the map—we’ll redefine it as a global hub for tomorrow’s solutions. The future is here, and it’s Kwara’s to claim.”
In his remarks, Hon. Ishola said the exhibition marked the fulfilment of the governor’s vision for a “digital Kwara where every child can learn, create, and compete globally.”
“When His Excellency approved the pilot phase of the Kwara Coding and Digital Literacy Programme in 2024, it was not merely an experiment; it was a strategic intervention to prepare our children for the future of work,” Ishola noted.
He revealed that over 120 instructors—including NYSC members, ICT teachers, and digital volunteers—had been deployed across the state, with 60 per cent of participating schools located in rural or underserved areas, thereby bridging the urban-rural digital divide.
Ishola also unveiled the next phase of the programme, which will expand to 100 schools, establish Innovation Learning Centres in each senatorial district, and launch ‘Girls Code Kwara’, an initiative targeting 60 per cent female participation in technology by 2026.
“Kwara is not just catching up. We are setting the pace for what subnational governments can achieve through vision and willpower,” he said.
Kwara’s Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, highlighted that the coding and digital literacy programme underscores the administration’s commitment to youth development.
“When you look at the budget, the highest we met for education was about 5 per cent. I’m proud to say this administration has raised it to around 14 per cent,” Olohungbebe stated, noting that the governor prioritizes the future of young people.
Other dignitaries, including the Commissioners for Communications, Business, Innovation and Technology, and Social Development, lauded AbdulRazaq’s leadership in promoting innovation and inclusion through education.
A representative of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Mrs. Funmilayo Obi, also praised the governor’s youth-focused policies.
“Your Excellency, you are showing Nigeria and the world that when we invest in our youth, we invest in a future that is timeless, inclusive, and extraordinary,” she said.
The Kwara Futures Exhibition 2025 reaffirmed the state’s growing reputation as a rising center for digital innovation, driven by forward-looking policies and the creativity of its young generation.
