Ekiti State University (EKSU) Chancellor Dr. Tunji Olowolafe praised the Ekiti State Government’s recent establishment of six technical colleges, describing the move as a crucial step toward equipping the state’s youth with practical skills needed for the emerging economy. He made the remarks during the Ekiti at 30 Future Summit, where Governor Biodun Oyebanji also delivered the keynote address.
**What did the Chancellor say about the new technical colleges?**
Olowolafe highlighted that the six colleges must be expanded and strengthened to satisfy the growing appetite for technical education across all 16 local government areas. He urged modernisation of curricula, increased spending on equipment and infrastructure, and a boost in human‑capacity development to keep the institutions aligned with modern economic needs. He identified solar installation, welding, fabrication, machinery repair, food processing and other high‑value trades as pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
**How will foreign expertise be incorporated?**
“We must expand this capacity by modernising the curriculum and directly hiring master vocational instructors from nations with elite technical education systems, such as Switzerland, Germany, Canada and South Africa, to train our faculty and connect our colleges digitally to clients and employers everywhere,” Olowolafe said.
He pledged that the Pro‑Chancellor of Miva Open University would partner with the state to set up upgraded, solar‑powered ICT centres in each college and to introduce foreign specialists into vocational training programmes. He also proposed collaborations with international mining schools to elevate EKSU’s Geology Department to world‑class status within five years.
**How does the Ekiti Knowledge Zone fit into the state’s development agenda?**
The Chancellor described the Ekiti Knowledge Zone as a flagship, technology‑driven project capable of breaking international barriers in knowledge, technology and business. Conceived under former Governor Kayode Fayemi and now being implemented by Governor Oyebanji, the zone aims to give young entrepreneurs a platform to launch tech ventures that serve clients in Lagos, London, Singapore and beyond, turning education into wealth.
**What renewable‑energy initiatives were proposed?**
Olowolafe stressed that reliable power is essential for education, health, small businesses and industry. He advocated the creation of renewable‑energy‑powered micro‑grids across the state’s 177 wards, suggesting that the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) could accelerate deployment. He also challenged scientists and artisans to develop solar‑powered cocoa‑drying equipment to modernise cocoa processing, a move he said could boost foreign‑exchange earnings.
**What other infrastructure projects were highlighted?**
The Chancellor pointed to the Ekiti Agro‑Allied International Cargo Airport as evidence of the benefits of continuity in vision across successive administrations. He emphasized that good road networks are needed to complement such infrastructure and spur industrial growth. He cited the Gbemisola Olowolafe Memorial Community Secondary School in Are‑Ekiti as a model of effective stakeholder engagement, aiming to expand it into a world‑class institution for 600 students with a curriculum rooted in science, technology, languages, arts and sports.
**What digital initiatives are underway at EKSU?**
Since his appointment in 2024, Olowolafe has overseen several digital projects at EKSU, including Project Digi‑Teach EKSU, which seeks to equip all 650 lecturers with digital teaching competencies, and the establishment of a Trading Room that now offers a Senate‑approved diploma in financial markets. High‑speed Starlink internet has also been installed at 12 campus locations, and the GOMTECH ICT centre adjacent to the community school provides training in artificial intelligence, coding, graphic design and Mandarin.
Overall, the Chancellor’s address underscored the need for sustained investment, curriculum reform, international collaboration and renewable‑energy infrastructure to transform Ekiti’s educational strengths into tangible economic prosperity.