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The Ekiti State Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Digital Economy (MISDE) is spearheading a digital transformation agenda that could position the state as one of Nigeria’s most vibrant technology and innovation ecosystems.
Established by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the ministry is focused on equipping young people with future-of-work skills, enhancing infrastructure, and aligning academia with industry.
In an exclusive interview with News Central, Commissioner Seun Fakuade detailed a range of programs already underway, including boot camps, digital academies, and a multimillion-dollar R&D zone.
“We’re not chasing buzzwords. We’re building talent, infrastructure, and ecosystems – one boot camp, one startup, one teacher at a time,” said Fakuade.
The state’s STEAM Boot Camp, launched in September 2024, introduces students from public secondary schools to robotics, coding, and hands-on problem-solving. A pilot program, it will inform how digital literacy is embedded across all education levels.
At the tertiary level, MISDE is working with universities to align ICT curricula with industry needs. Every university in the state now has reliable internet infrastructure via the EKIREN project, and they are integrated into the broader startup ecosystem.
Educators are not left behind. Teachers are being trained at the Ekiti Startup Garage, learning practical applications of technology in classrooms. Plans are underway to launch mobile training units to reach rural schools and ensure equitable access to tech education.
Startups, Robotics & Real-World Learning
In June 2025, Ekiti launched its Robotics Academy, graduating 400 students in its first cohort. Over 2,000 more are already on the waiting list. Students also gain exposure through the Ekiti Startup Garage, where they tackle real community challenges.
Success stories include Team Savvy, which won ₦5 million at the GTB Squad Hackathon for their fintech solution “Splitwise.” Their journey–from discovery in a public school to national recognition–represents the ministry’s “discovery-to-success” model.
The ambitious Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ), backed by $80 million from the African Development Bank, is designed to anchor R&D and innovation. The state is reviewing proposals from telcos to deploy fiber optics across its 16 LGAs, targeting improved rural connectivity.
Ekiti has forged partnerships with global organisations like UNDP and Innovate UK, and is rolling out the IESF program, which will fund pre-acceleration and commercialisation of university research.
“Our competitive edge isn’t just fiber and coworking spaces — it’s human capital, built in Ekiti and ready for global markets,” Fakuade emphasised.
MISDE is developing a robust impact measurement system to track job creation, business launches, and economic opportunities, aligning with Governor Oyebanji’s Shared Prosperity Agenda.
The commissioner notes that while Nigeria’s R&D spending is just 0.2% of GDP (compared to the global 2.3%), Ekiti is pushing beyond national averages with localised innovation strategies.
Fakuade aims to roll out Startup Garages in all 16 LGAs, creating Nigeria’s first statewide innovation network. His goal is clear: ensure that talented young people in Ekiti don’t feel the need to leave the state to achieve global success.
“I want my legacy to be a generation of homegrown tech leaders who stayed in Ekiti, built global companies, and created jobs in their own communities,” he concluded.
With Nigeria’s digital economy projected to contribute $88 billion to GDP by 2030, Ekiti’s early investments in people, platforms, and policy may prove not only visionary but vital.
