On July 11, 2019, Ilorin West Local Government formally honored 15 distinguished research engineering scholars whose groundbreaking proposals aim to revolutionize smart transportation system across Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State Nigeria. The prestigious ceremony marked the culmination of a highly competitive research proposal call, which saw pool of applicants from different institutions across Nigeria. The initiative part of Ilorin West’s vision to modernize urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and foster economic connectivity through intelligent transportation systems sought compelling, scalable, and innovative ideas in smart mobility, infrastructure digitization, traffic automation, and green transportation alternatives.
The call for proposals, launched in March 2019, was open to university students, researcher, and technologists affiliated with Nigerian universities, research institutes, and private innovation hubs. A total of 486 proposals were received and rigorously evaluated by a 12-member inter-agency technical committee comprising experts in urban planning, engineering, ICT, and economics.
After an exhaustive three-round review process, 45 finalists were shortlisted and invited to defend their concepts. From this, 15 awardees were selected based on four principal criteria which include Value Addition and practicability, State-wide Impact, Economic Viability and Industrialization and Technological Edge. The scholars celebrated include Bolanle Ibrahim, Issa Abdulrasheed Yinka, Yusuf Bukunmi Abdulrazzaq, Ayinla Adegbona, Sikirat Damilola Mustapha, Iyanda Kazeem, Abdulkabir Olatunji Issa, David Johnson alongside other brilliant individuals drawn from a wide range of disciplines including Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Economics, Physics, Operations research & statistics. These honorees were students and graduate researchers from renowned institutions such as Kwara State University, Malete, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Technology, Minna, and Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola. Each awardee received a grant award and scholarship alongside government collaboration rights for pilot testing, stakeholder engagement, and eventual deployment within Ilorin metropolis.
Speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, Hon. Saheed Babatunde alabi, emphasized the project’s long-term goal of establishing Ilorin as a smart mobility capital in North Central Nigeria. He lauded the researchers for proposing cutting-edge ideas that bridge academia and industry.
“This recognition serves as a testament to the academic strength and future potential of Nigerian youth,” the Chairman stated. “We are not just honoring ideas today; we are investing in a better tomorrow….”
The Director of works, Engineer salman Ayilara added that this initiative reflects a shift toward solution-based governance, where research is leveraged to solve real urban problems. He noted that many of the honorees had participated in international symposia, published in top-tier journals, and were affiliated with institutions such as the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, and Federal University of Technology Minna, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola among others. While the project succeeded in attracting broad interest, the committee acknowledged several challenges which restricted awards to only 15 out of 45 final-round-worthy candidates, with a majority of proposals clustering around route optimization and traffic automation which further prompted calls for a dedicated rural smart mobility fund in the next round. Nonetheless, the ceremony stood as a resounding endorsement of research-driven governance. It not only celebrated current achievements but also set a strong precedent for future collaborations between local governments and academia.
Lecturers, mentors, and family members also shared words of pride and admiration. One parent described the event as “a light in a country often clouded by negative headlines, which proved that brilliance still thrives in Nigeria.” The gathering served as a reminder that excellence is not accidental; it is cultivated, nurtured, and when acknowledged, has the power to inspire a generation. As the smart transportation projects begin to roll out, citizens of Ilorin and indeed the whole of Kwara state can look forward to a city where mobility meets innovation, and where research drives reality.
