IBADAN – Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that Nigeria has no reason to be grappling with poverty, emphasizing the need to look beyond crude oil and focus on the future through education, entrepreneurship, and technology.
Speaking at the commissioning of a newly built IT Community Centre at Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke-Bola, Ibadan—donated by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)—Makinde expressed deep appreciation for the initiative and its alignment with his vision for sustainable development.
“Thank you, ma, for bringing this ICT Centre to Ibadan. And thank you to NITDA for partnering on such a forward-thinking project,” he said.
Governor Makinde highlighted that while Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, economic prosperity requires more than just oil and minerals.
“Natural resources alone cannot bring us prosperity. What matters is how we invest in our people—through entrepreneurship and education, especially in areas like Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence. These are the roads to the future,” Makinde said.
Using coal as an example of outdated wealth, he noted that the global shift away from fossil fuels means Nigeria must prepare for a post-oil economy.
“Fifty years ago, coal was power. Today, it’s virtually worthless. The same fate awaits oil. To secure our future, we must evolve with the world.”
Empowering Communities Through Technology
In her remarks, Senator Tinubu reiterated the non-political and people-focused nature of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to empower communities, especially women and girls, through access to digital knowledge and life-changing skills.
“This Centre is our third, and the fourth in Benue State will be ready soon,” she said. “We’re doing this not for politics, but because we’re all Nigerians. Leadership is temporary, but impact is lasting.”
She emphasized that the Centre would provide tools that help break barriers, uplift communities, and give individuals, especially young women, access to new digital opportunities.
