“Ekiti Start-Up Garage Is Our Major Achievement”- Akande

The establishment and development of the Ekiti Start-Up Garage has been identified as a major achievement of the state government’s technology and innovation drive.

Ayodele Ayo-Akande, Technical Assistant, Governance and Digital Communication, Ekiti State, said the initiative had provided a foundation for building a state-wide innovation ecosystem and creating opportunities for young people.

“If I were to identify one major achievement of this tenure, it would be the establishment and development of the Ekiti Start-Up Garage as a foundation for a state-wide innovation ecosystem,” Ayo-Akande said.

He explained that the Garage was more than a physical facility, as it provides opportunities for talent discovery, mentorship, technology development and collaboration among young innovators.

According to him, the initiative is designed to connect young people with business opportunities and help turn innovative ideas into practical solutions and businesses.

Ayo-Akande said the establishment of the Garage demonstrated the administration’s commitment to making innovation a practical driver of economic development in the state.

He, however, noted that the achievement should not be considered in isolation, as the government had also been developing other structures required to sustain a digital economy.

He listed innovation hubs, skills programmes, funding mechanisms, policy frameworks and digital infrastructure among the initiatives supporting the state’s technology ecosystem.

Ayo-Akande said the broader vision was to create an environment where young people could discover their talents, acquire relevant skills, develop products, access mentorship and funding, and build sustainable businesses without leaving Ekiti.