Oluremi Tinubu unveils Kwara varsity ICT centre

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned an ICT Experience Centre at Kwara State University, Malete, as the Federal Government expands its digital skills development programme to 15 additional tertiary institutions across the country.

Tinubu, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, disclosed this on Tuesday during the commissioning of the facility at the institution.

She said construction of ICT Experience Centres was “ongoing in institutions across Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.”

The expansion is part of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Renewed Hope Initiative ICT Experience Centre programme, which is aimed at strengthening digital skills, innovation and technology-based learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The intervention comes amid growing pressure on universities and other tertiary institutions to equip graduates with practical digital competencies as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, software development and other emerging technologies increasingly reshape the labour market.

The Federal Government has also increasingly linked tertiary education reforms to employability and the need to prepare young Nigerians for a technology-driven economy.

Speaking at the commissioning, Tinubu said the expansion was aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

“The centre we are commissioning today represents opportunity, innovation, knowledge and hope for the future of young people in Kwara State and beyond,” she said.

She added that the initiative demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing education and digital inclusion, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on youth empowerment, education, innovation and economic transformation.

Tinubu said the KWASU facility was equipped with ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces to promote learning, creativity, research and technological advancement.

She noted that “KWASU was one of six tertiary institutions selected for the pilot phase of the programme, with one institution representing each of the country’s six geopolitical zones.”

The First Lady said centres had already been commissioned in other geopolitical zones, while those at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University would be commissioned soon.

She urged students to take ownership of the centre and maximise the opportunities it provides.

“To our dear students, this centre has been established for you, to help you learn, innovate, develop solutions and unlock your full potential,” she said.

She further urged them to use technology positively “to transform your lives, communities and our nation.”

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Olajide Babatunde, said the TETFund Board had approved funding for an ICT Experience Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones, with each centre costing about N1bn.

Echono said the centres were designed to provide students and lecturers with practical digital skills in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and software development.

“As technology continues to transform economies, the Board of Trustees recognised the need to align Nigeria’s education system with emerging global technology and industrial standards,” he said.

He said the facilities would expose beneficiaries to contemporary technologies and their applications in sectors such as security, agriculture, healthcare, media and mining, while enhancing graduate employability and fostering innovation.

Echono described the KWASU facility as one of the foremost ICT Experience Centres being delivered across the country and the third to be commissioned in 2026.

“The facility is appropriately furnished and fully air-conditioned, with supporting power and municipal infrastructure. Beyond providing the equipment, it offers a conducive environment for acquiring practical competencies, exploring ideas and developing innovative solutions,” he said.

The TETFund boss urged KWASU management to take full ownership of the facility, ensure its equipment was properly maintained and secured, and regularly update it in line with technological advancements.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the centre as a strategic investment in human capital, innovation and entrepreneurship.

“This centre is an investment in human capital, in innovation, in entrepreneurship, and most importantly, it is an investment in the future of Nigeria,” Jimoh said.

He assured that the university would maximise the facility for students, researchers and the wider university community.

“We will use it, we will explore it, experiment in it, learn and innovate in it,” he said.