By Prisca Sam-Duru

In the heart of Ilorin, Kwara State, Makers and Leaders Hub (MALhub), a vibrant tech hub has been nurturing the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts for a few years now. MALhub has consistently been optimising resources and talent to deliver exceptional results.

The hub has served as a platform for essential conversations with leading figures in the global tech scene. It has also created rigorous training programmes, producing graduates well-equipped in a wide range of tech fields. Graduates have gained expertise in cybersecurity, product design and management, data analysis and full-stack development, showcasing the hub’s commitment to well-rounded tech education.

Their journey hasn’t been without its challenges, however. The hub has not been spared from the power supply issues facing the rest of the country. The unreliable electricity supply has hampered their ability to provide a consistent learning environment and hindered the full potential of the hub.

But a recent development has sparked a new chapter for MALhub. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Akomolafe Foundation and the Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria (GAIN), the hub has now been equipped with a solar energy system. This shift to sustainable power has brought immense relief and an air of sustainability to the hub and its community.

Prior to the solar installation, MALhub’s operations were dictated by the whims of the local grid. Long power outages disrupted workshops, stalled project development, and created an overall frustrating learning experience. “There were times when we’d be in the middle of a coding session and suddenly, the power would cut out,” explains Cynthia Okafor, the hub’s female lead who honed her skills at MALhub.

“It was incredibly demoralising, especially when working on tight deadlines.”This unreliable power supply wasn’t just an inconvenience; it also impacted the financial well-being of the hub. “We were constantly having to rely on generators, which are expensive to run and not environmentally friendly,” says Kamaldeen Kehinde, managing partner at MALhub.

The arrival of the solar panels has been a game-changer. Now, the distraction of generators has been replaced by the quiet efficiency of solar power and transformed the learning environment at MALhub. Workshops and training sessions can now proceed uninterrupted, allowing trainees to focus on their studies and skill development. The impact goes beyond just uninterrupted learning. The new system provides a stable platform for MALhub to expand its offerings.

According to the operators, plans are underway to introduce new courses and workshops, catering to a wider range of students who can now take advantage of the reliable power supply. This expansion ably supports Nigeria’s quest for developing and massively growing local human capacity in the areas of Information Technology, a core foundational pillar of its aspirations to get onboard the fast-moving Fourth Industrial Revolution train.

The Akomolafe Foundation, established in honour of the late Mrs. Esther Olabisi Akomolafe (nee Olajiga of Adó Ekiti, September 22, 1935 – November 17, 2005) and dedicated to empowering Nigerian youth, played a pivotal role in facilitating the solar project. Late Mrs Olabisi Akomolafe was an Educationist and a staunch advocate and champion for Women’s Rights who is fondly remembered and memorialised by her surviving children and grandchildren.

“We recognised the significant potential of MALhub and the challenges they faced due to unreliable electricity,” says Mr. Femi Akomolafe, the foundation’s president. “We believe that access to reliable power is crucial for educational equity, particularly in the tech sector. It’s the key to equipping our future workforce with the skills they need to compete on a global stage.”

Also speaking, the organisation’s co-founder, Dr. Leke Otunuga, said “The youth population in Nigeria is roughly above 55%. Engaging with the Akomolafe Foundation to provide solar solution to Nigeria’s notorious power problem means two things: one, GAIN is helping to engage, empower, and enable the youth to harness and positively direct their creative and natural energy for the purpose of overall national development. Two, we help the youth gets positively engaged and, ipso facto, stay off criminal activities.”

The shift to solar energy not only provides a sustainable power source but also aligns with MALhub’s commitment to environmental responsibility. “We’re teaching our students about the importance of sustainability in the tech industry,” explains Kamaldeen. “Having a solar-powered hub allows us to put those principles into practice and showcase the positive impact technology can have on the environment.”

Today, the future looks bright for MALhub. The consistent electricity supply empowers them to continue nurturing the next generation of Nigerian tech leaders. The hub is set to become a spotlight of innovation and a testament to the transformative power of investment into Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.