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| L-R: Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Saba Jubril; Regional Agriculture Counsellor France Embassy in Nigeria Dr Sonia Darracq; Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs France Embassy Rafael Point; French Ambassador to Nigeria Jerome Pasquier; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; and Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danlandi; during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ilorin Visual Arts Centre Project, on Wednesday. |
The unveiling ceremony conducted alongside the visiting French Ambassador to Nigeria Jerome Pasquier, came hours before he commissioned the 3-kilometre asphalt road that leads to Nigeria’s first museum in Esie town of Irepodun local government area of Kwara South.
The Ilorin Visual Arts Centre will be the first
purpose-built contemporary film and art institute in West Africa and the second
Dolby Atmos Certified film production studio in the sub-region, the Governor
said.
“In Kwara State, geography has made farming, trading, and
tourism are major comparative advantages. We are blessed with vast arable land.
‘’Our land straddling the core north, the west, and a
French-speaking country, Kwara is a trading post and a convergence for various
peoples of Nigeria and of the world. And our state hosts some of the most
sought-after tourism destinations in the world,” he said.
“This explains our investment interests in agribusiness and
entrepreneurship. This Ilorin Visual Arts Centre is our strategic response to
calls to place Kwara State firmly on the global map of tourism development.
‘’It is a project that will not only make the state the
go-to place in the creative and entertainment industry but also create jobs and
sustainable growth.
“The centre is a purpose-built cultural museum of visual and
cinematic arts, with post-production studio facilities, galleries, and screening
space, among others… It will be the first world-class professional colour
grading centre in Nigeria outside Lagos.
“It is not a coincidence that this facility is being
constructed alongside significant investments in other tourism projects. Later
this afternoon, our administration will commission the road leading to the Esie
Museum, which is the first museum in Nigeria.
‘’This shows our integrated approach to socioeconomic and
cultural development and an ambition to make Kwara the new investment destination.
“Our vision and commitment for a greater Kwara are clear.
And we will seek out every strategic friendship, especially from the private
sector and development partners, to achieve our goals.”
AbdulRazaq said the innovation hub opens the state to all
the possibilities in the digital age, adding that the project will create jobs
and make Ilorin another investment destination.
The French ambassador said the conception and quality of the
project show that the Governor is a visionary, and pledged the support of the
francophone government to the state.
“What I have seen in Kwara, from rural projects to
innovation hub and visual arts centre, shows how active you were in the last
two years. In France, like in Nigeria, we always consider the culture as very
important.
‘’People’s tradition and culture are important. Nigerians
can be very proud of their culture, artists, writers, movies directors and the
likes. Nigerian culture is quite well-known in the world especially in France
through Nollywood and clear music.”
Temi Kolawole, Managing Director of the innovation hub, said
the facility is part of the administration’s drive to deepen the adoption of
technology and boost economic growth in the state.
“This project aligns with the vision of the Governor to
transform Kwara into an economically viable and self-sustaining state via
digital literacy, youth empowerment, innovation and technology,” he said.
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