Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has praised the commitment of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to advancing the 3 Million Technology Talents (3MTT) initiative across Nigeria. The Minister, represented by the Initiative’s Community Manager, Ibrahim Zulkifuli, spoke at the graduation ceremony for the first cohort of the 3MTT programme and the launch of the Kwara Digital Economy platform in Ilorin.

Dr. Tijani commended the Kwara State government’s significant support for the 3MTT project, which aims to groom three million technology talents across the country. He highlighted the state’s proactive approach in adopting the initiative, which resulted in over 40,000 entries during a state-wide sensitization and registration process in January 2024.

“We have all seen the digital transformation in the state, and what the Honourable Minister envisioned is to ensure capacity building for everybody. We could see how it is transforming from Kwara through the support of His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” Zulkifuli stated.

The Minister lauded Governor AbdulRazaq for his significant contributions, noting that the Governor’s support for the programme included providing laptops, resources, and other forms of assistance to ensure the programme’s success. Dr. Tijani described Kwara’s support for the initiative as “amazingly huge,” recognizing the Governor’s deployment of a capable team, such as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation and Technology, Hon. Ishola Kayode.

Governor AbdulRazaq, represented by Senior Advisor Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, emphasized the state’s commitment to the digital transformation journey. He mentioned the significant investments made over the past five years to shift from an analogue to a digital economy, aiming to create new opportunities for the state’s youth.

“We all know that this state was regarded as a civil servants’ state. You know the series of multibillion-naira investments we have put in place in the last five years to ensure that we transform from analogue to digital economy,” the Governor stated.

State Commissioner for Business, Innovation, and Technology, Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, also highlighted the administration’s efforts to foster a culture of innovation, supporting tech programmes that create opportunities for emerging tech professionals. The Commissioner noted the establishment of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, designed to nurture and support tech talents, startups, and innovations in Kwara.

The event featured panel discussions and addresses from various stakeholders, with attendees including state government officials, entrepreneurs, and technology experts. The Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, Ishola Kayode, emphasized Kwara’s leading role in harnessing the 3MTT programme’s potential, with the administration providing laptops, internet access, and other resources to support the training.