The Senatorial Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Kogi West Senatorial District, Muyi Fatosa, has announced plans to establish a fully equipped Innovation and Creative Hub in each of the seven Local Government Areas of the district, as part of a broader vision to prepare young people for the future economy and secure the district’s place in the digital age.
Seven Hubs, One Vision
The proposed hubs will span Yagba, Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopa-Muro, and the Kogi-KotonKarfe area, among others, and will offer a wide range of facilities including Artificial Intelligence and digital skills training, ICT laboratories, media and podcast studios, creative arts and content production facilities, co-working spaces, and startup incubation and business support services.
An Engine for Jobs and Economic Growth
Beyond infrastructure, the hubs are designed as engines for job creation and economic growth. Each facility will directly employ trainers, technicians, and support staff, while indirectly generating thousands of additional jobs through the startups, freelance ventures, and creative enterprises expected to emerge from them. Graduates of the hubs will be linked to remote work opportunities, grants, and investors, ensuring that the skills acquired translate into real income.
Curbing Youth Restiveness
Fatosa described the initiative as a deliberate response to youth restiveness in the district.
“Idle hands create trouble. Productive hands build nations. These hubs will give our youths a reason to dream, a place to work, and a path to wealth. When young people are engaged, skilled, and earning, insecurity and social vices will drastically reduce,” he said.
Projecting Kogi West’s Creative Talent to the World
The hubs will also serve as launchpads for the creative talents of Kogi West youths on the global stage. Equipped with state-of-the-art media studios, music production suites, and content creation labs, young writers, filmmakers, musicians, designers, and tech innovators across the district’s seven local government areas will have the tools to tell Kogi’s stories, build global brands, and export local talent to international markets.
“Our youths deserve opportunities that match the realities of today’s economy. These hubs will become centres where innovation is nurtured, businesses are created, jobs are generated, and future leaders are developed. Kogi West will not just consume technology and culture, we will produce it,” Fatosa stated.
Part of a Broader Legislative Agenda
According to Fatosa, the initiative forms a key pillar of his legislative agenda, which is aimed at expanding economic opportunities, reducing unemployment, curbing youth restiveness, and fostering sustainable development through knowledge, technology, and creativity.
With this plan, Kogi West is positioning itself to become a leading centre for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative excellence in North Central Nigeria.
