Major construction activity has kicked off in the Kwara Smart City as the state government officially handed over the site for the multistorey Senate Building of the Kwara State University of Education (KWSUED) to contractors on Thursday. The move marks another significant milestone in Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s ambitious smart city development plan.

The permanent site of the university is located in the First District of the emerging Smart City, situated in the Alalubosa area of Ilorin East Local Government. It is expected to anchor other public and private infrastructure within the district.

30km of Roads Already Cleared

Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Segun Ogunsola, revealed that 30 out of the planned 120 kilometers of internal roads across the First, Second, and Third Districts have already been cleared to ensure smooth take-off of the project.

While handing over the site to MC&T Nig Ltd, Ogunsola emphasized the administration’s commitment to delivering a world-class educational environment.

“We expect a quality job that will provide a standard campus for the people of Kwara State. What we are doing today is historic because we have a visionary leader who understands that development requires investment in education and supporting infrastructure,” he said.

A Fully Planned Smart City

According to Ogunsola, the Smart City will consist of 20 well-structured districts, featuring residential, commercial, educational, health, enterprise, and recreational zones—all linked by sustainable transportation networks.

“This is mostly virgin land, but in a few months, we will witness massive development covering education, health, housing, and more. Everywhere will be properly planned,” he added.

The commissioner also commended Governor AbdulRazaq for securing 250 federal housing units and an additional 100 units under the Renewed Hope Housing Estate initiative.

Top Officials Applaud the Project

Key stakeholders at the site handover included:

• 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 KWSUED, Prof. Medinat Salman
• Baale of Alalubosa, Alhaji Sakariyau Sonibare

Modibbo Kawu praised the governor’s commitment to educational development.

“Education is the greatest empowerment you can give because it provides equal opportunities for all children. We are blessed to have a leader who prioritises education,” she said.

Ajakaye described the Kwara Smart City as an investment in the future, stressing that the project is more than a university; it represents a new model for sustainable urban living over the coming decades.

“This is visionary leadership at work. We call on everyone to support this project for the future,” he noted.

Community Welcomes Development

The Baale of Alalubosa, Alhaji Sonibare, expressed gratitude to the government for choosing the community as host to the university’s main campus, saying the project will accelerate socioeconomic growth in the area.