Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji, has said that building the state as a talent capital of Nigeria and ensuring that it becomes an important knowledge innovation corridor are tasks that must be achieved by his administration.

The governor gave the assurance, yesterday, during the close of a two-day Ekiti State Innovation Summit in Ado-Ekiti, with the theme, “Innovate Ekiti: Kick-starting Ekiti State Innovation Pathway to Prosperity.’

The event brought together policymakers and entrepreneurs, among others, while scores of youths of diverse areas of interest were also in attendance.

According to him, government had set in motion the state’s ambitious plans to establish a knowledge zone and a creative tech village, thereby marking a significant stride towards nurturing homegrown innovation.

Oyebanji, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Habibat Adubiaro, said that the summit was a pivotal platform for what he described as “the groundbreaking initiative.”

He emphasised his support for the initiatives, underscoring government’s dedication to transforming the state into an innovation hub. It would be recalled that in October 2023, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its weekly meeting, had secured $80 million financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project (EKZ).

Oyebanji said that with the AFDB credit of $80 million for the Ekiti knowledge zone, plans to transform the state into an innovation hub is irrevocable, adding that he was ready to pursue the project to a logical end.

Also speaking at the event, the state’s Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Digital Economy, Seun Fakuade, while highlighting the summit’s purpose, said: “The gathering is not just a summit; it is the birth of Ekiti State’s future.”

He noted that the establishment of a knowledge zone, and a creative village in Ekiti State, was a clear testament to the administration’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and technological advancement.

In his address, Head of the United Nations Development Programne, (UNDP), Lagos, Dr. William Tsuma, highlighted the critical role of ensuring innovation solves the problems around multidimensional poverty in Nigeria.

He said: “According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 63 per cent of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, while 42 per cent of young people are out of work. This means we cannot talk about innovation without solving real problems affecting Nigerians everyday.