Businessman, philanthropist and chairman, Flow FM Ilorin, Araba Femi Sanni, has called for a strategic economic repositioning of Kwara State, urging a shift from a predominantly civil service-driven economy to a dynamic conference and business tourism destination.
Speaking after returning from the UK, where he attended the Nigerian-UK Business Conference held in conjunction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit, Sanni said emerging trends indicate the state is well-positioned for such a transformation.
He pointed to the growing frequency of same-day return flights between Lagos and Ilorin as evidence of increasing business traffic, adding that ongoing infrastructure projects under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, including the simultaneous development of two conference centres and a five-star hotel, are laying the groundwork for a functional downtown ecosystem capable of hosting large-scale national and international events.
“This is not just an opportunity; it is a strategic imperative. Kwara State has the foundational assets to become a preferred hub for conferences, exhibitions, and corporate engagements in Nigeria,” Sanni said.
The business leader emphasized that diversifying the state’s economy through conference and business tourism would create jobs, enhance internally generated revenue, and strengthen Kwara’s contribution to national development.
He also highlighted the importance of security in sustaining this vision, noting that effective state policing would reduce insecurity, foster investor confidence, and support the state’s broader developmental agenda.
“This is the kind of forward-looking plan the state needs at this critical moment, to build on Governor AbdulRazaq’s ongoing transformation,” Sanni added.
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