Leading telecommunications infrastructure provider, IHS Nigeria, has reiterated its
commitment to transforming the Ilorin Innovation Hub into a leading destination
for talent and technology development across North-Central Nigeria. The company
envisions the Hub as a launchpad for future unicorns and a magnet for young
innovators from Kwara State and the surrounding regions.
Speaking
during a virtual town hall session organized by the Ilorin Innovation Hub with
the theme “From Ilorin to the World: Building a Globally Recognized Technology
Hub,”, Mr. Kazeem Oladepo, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
of IHS Nigeria, emphasized the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and
community engagement in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“We see
the Ilorin Innovation Hub as a platform to attract top talent—not just from
Ilorin, but from across the region’s tertiary institutions and tech ecosystem,”
Oladepo said. “This is an opportunity to build globally impactful companies by
harnessing local brilliance with global insight.”
Mr.
Temi Kolawole, Managing Director/CEO of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, described
the town hall as a homecoming for top minds with roots in Kwara State.
“This
is a convergence of visionaries—people who’ve built, scaled, and invested in
world-class companies—now giving back to shape a collective future,” Kolawole
said. “Our partnership with IHS Nigeria exemplifies what’s possible when public
sector ambition meets private sector expertise.”
Responding
to a participant’s question on how individuals could contribute towards the
growth of the hub, Mr. Oladepo encouraged industry experts present to engage
directly with the Hub’s program managers – future Africa and Cc-Hub, provide
mentorship, and help in aligning the training modules with local and global market
realities.
“IHS is
already investing financial, technical, and intellectual resources into the
Hub. But to truly thrive, we need champions within the ecosystem—mentors who’ve
built real businesses—to guide young people as they develop transformative
ideas,” he noted.
Highlighting
long-term sustainability, Oladepo called for the inclusion of successful
professionals and entrepreneurs in the Hub’s activities to ensure relevance and
adaptability.
“Let’s
bring in those who’ve succeeded in fields like e-commerce, logistics, Healthtech,
and Data Mining. Their insights can help refine the Hub’s programs and ensure
participants extract real value,” he added.
Other
speakers at the session included Ms. Anu Adasolum, Founder & CEO of Sabi,
and Mr. Chris Folayan, Founder of Founder Centered. The virtual townhall was
well attended with participants including tech enthusiasts, founders, startups
drawn from both within and outside Nigeria.
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