A group, KWARABUILD, over the weekend, trained 1,500 youths from across North Central and beyond in technology aimed at achieving self-dependence and economic empowerment.

A co-founder of the group, Ibraheem Zulkifli, on Saturday, at the main conference marking the end of the three-day event, told newsmen that the group trained participants in various technological skills to help them build their future.

“Our aim is to uncover the hidden talents in the participants (youths) during the three-day event,” he said.

He stated that the group sought collaboration from the state government and other major stakeholders for easier access to youths eager to escape the cycles of poverty and unemployment.

According to him, participants were taught on Thursday and Friday how to find and apply solutions to varying technological challenges.

He, however, commended the state government for providing the enabling environment for youths to thrive, saying, “It has never been like this in Kwara State; we are grateful to the state government.”

Kamaldeen Kehinde, another co-founder of KWARABUILD, stated that the event was the seventh and had successfully relieved Kwarans of the need to attend similar events in Lagos and other neighboring states.

Another Abuja-based co-founder, Adeola Olaleye, said, “We use our forum to create an environment for the youths to realize their talents.”

The state government, through the Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovative Hub, commended the group for blazing the trail in what he described as the largest youth gathering in the state.

“Kwara government has always encouraged any individual or group that will take up the challenges of the youths. We are interested in serious, massive empowerment of the youths,” he stressed.

Two participants, Salahudeen AbdulRauf and Kulepa Boluwatife, confessed to having improved their knowledge of technology and computer software, respectively.