- The two NGOs donated the solar system to address the persistent challenge of an erratic power supply hindering technological advancement in the region.
- Despite efforts to develop local tech talent, the hub has struggled with an erratic power supply.
Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the Akomolafe Foundation (AF) and the Governance Advancement Initiative of Nigeria (GAIN), have donated and installed a solar energy system at the Makers and Leaders Hub (MALhub), a technology hub in Ilorin, Kwara State.
In a statement, MALhub’s managing partner, Kalmaldeen Kehinde, noted that the donation by the two NGOs aimed to address the persistent challenge of erratic power supply hindering technological advancement in the region.
According to the MD, the hub struggled with an erratic power supply despite efforts to develop local tech talent. Kehinde lauded the collaborative effort between the AF and GAIN for ushering in a new era of sustainability for the hub, catapulting it into a realm of uninterrupted learning and innovation.
He stressed that the intervention would enable the hub to consistently train aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts in a conducive and efficient learning environment.
Speaking with journalists, the hub’s operations lead, Cynthia Okafor, stated that before the installation of the solar system, the learning experience of participants and tech enthusiasts was disrupted by unreliable power supplies and generator noise.
The Akomolafe Foundation, through its workshops and training sessions, recognises the tech hub’s role in developing human capacity and creating a viable workforce for the future, according to the President of the Foundation, Femi Akomolafe.
He added, “We believe that access to reliable power is crucial for educational equity, particularly in the tech sector. It is the key to equipping our future workforce with the skills they need to compete on a global stage.”