By: Aminah Salako – Adekunle Institutions of higher learning have been advised to modernize their curricula, enhance research capacity, and partner with innovation hubs to equip students with applied innovation skills. Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, gave the advice at a one-day Digital Innovation Hub and Startups event organized under the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Digisol Project. Speaking on the theme of the event, “Strengthening Knowledge Transfer between Universities, Tech Hubs and SMEs,” Mrs Olukoju represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Ibrahim AbdulLateef, listed the benefits of innovation hubs to include access to shared workspaces and digital tools, opportunities for networking with investors and development partners, and fostering collaboration. She also urged higher institutions to establish joint research laboratories and innovation labs, while calling on government to provide tax incentives to support these initiatives. Similarly, the State Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Musa Buge, represented by the General Manager of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency, KWEPA, Jide Aina, delivered a lecture titled “Good Practices for Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Hubs.” Hajia Buge encouraged stakeholders to build structured partnerships where knowledge, entrepreneurship, and policy reinforce one another. A participant, Mr. Kehinde Saka, Head of the Agriculture Department in Asa Local Government, described the training as an eye-opener. Mr Saka noted that despite challenges such as poor network connectivity, the knowledge gained would be shared with farmers at the grassroots, adding that since the inception of EU-Digisol Project, rural farmers have benefitted significantly from digital innovations and other forms of support. The event featured various sessions, including contributions from the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Dr. Uthman Funsho Akanbi, and Al-Hikmah Digisol Team member, Dr. Saidat Onikosi-Aliyu, Dr. Chinwe Nwogu, UAES, Dr. Adetayo Aromolaran and Dr. Esther Tolorunju both from FUNAAB Post navigation Green Climate Fund: Form Cooperative societies, partner relevant stakeholders, Rural Farmers tasked Stop branding locally made products with fake foreign names, Gov. Otti to Manufacturers
