Prof. Daniel Kitaw, an expert from the School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ethiopia, has said that Africa needs 450 million jobs in 25 years and can be achieved through UNILORIN-STIP.
Kitaw made the statement during the 4th International Conference, organised by the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FETICON), University of Ilorin.
The conference, themed “Innovating for a Sustainable and Resilient Future: Technology as a Catalyst for Economic Development,” attracted academics, researchers, industry experts, development partners and students from within and outside Nigeria.
The expert noted that UNILORIN-STIP, (Science, Technology, and Innovation Park) is an initiative at the University of Ilorin, to translate academic research into commercially viable products and services.
“It is designed as a hub for digital skills development, research, and enterprise incubation.
“Its focus areas are digital skills, research, enterprise incubation, and serving youth in Kwara and others around the country.
“The new tech park/innovation hub project to commercialize research and boost entrepreneurship,” he said.
Kitaw stressed that the future is something that could be built through UNILORIN-STIP to get continental beacon of sustainable innovation, innovate relentlessly, collaborate fearlessly and commercialize boldly.
Delivering his address, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN ably represented by Prof. Muhtar Etudaye, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Technology and Innovation, described engineering as the backbone of sustainable development.
Egbewole noted that no nation has attained meaningful progress without a strong engineering sector.
“Our country faces challenges, some of which we have dealt with, while others are emerging challenges. We need traditional engineering solutions and new adaptive solutions to address them,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the Faculty of Engineering and Technology has continued to contribute significantly to the university’s growth through the quality of graduates it produces and the impact of its research activities.
He highlighted the increasing relevance of technology in addressing contemporary security concerns, citing the growing use of drones for surveillance and life-saving operations.
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Prof. Temitope Odetoye, revealed that the conference received more than 300 accepted research papers, reflecting growing global interest in technology-driven solutions for sustainable development.
“It gladdens my heart that the carefully selected theme for FETICON 2026 has attracted over 300 high-quality accepted papers.
“The expected outcomes are to promote sustainable and innovative solutions for economic development in our countries and globally,” she said.
Odetoye described FETICON as a strategic platform for collaboration among researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, that would generate practical ideas capable of transforming industries and creating employment opportunities.













