By Peter Omopo
The Kwara State Government has officially handed over the site for the construction of a multistorey Senate building for the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), marking a major step in the ongoing Kwara Smart City development initiative.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday at Alalubosa in Ilorin East Local Government Area, where the First District of the Smart City is being developed.
In a statement released on Friday by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kunle Gbadeyan, the state government confirmed that KWASUED’s permanent campus, along with several public and private sector facilities, will be sited within the First District of the Smart City.
Smart City Takes Shape
Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Segun Ogunsola, disclosed that the Smart City will consist of 20 districts, designed to host educational institutions, residential areas, commercial hubs, and recreation zones.
He revealed that 30 kilometres out of the planned 120 kilometres of road networks across the First, Second, and Third Districts have already been cleared to pave the way for construction activities.
Handing the site over to the contractor, MC&T Nigeria Ltd., Ogunsola said:
“We expect a quality job that will provide a standard campus for the people of Kwara State. We are making history because we have a visionary leader who believes that to develop any state, you must invest in education and supporting infrastructure.”
He described the land as largely undeveloped but expressed optimism that rapid transformation across key sectors—including education, health, housing, and enterprise—would soon become visible.
Housing Projects Also Advancing
Ogunsola further highlighted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s support for housing development, citing the facilitation of 250 housing units through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as an additional 100 units under the Renewed Hope Housing Estate scheme.
Stakeholders Applaud Government’s Commitment
The handover event was attended by key government and community stakeholders, including:
- Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu
- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Alhaja Risikat AbdulAzeez
- Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye
- Vice Chancellor of KWASUED, Prof. Medinat Salman
- Baale of Alalubosa, Alhaji Sakariyau Sonibare
Modibbo commended the government’s prioritisation of education, stating that it “provides a level playing field for all children.”
Ajakaye described the Smart City project as a model of sustainable living, while Baale Sonibare said the establishment of the university’s permanent campus would accelerate development within the community.
