Government Excited As Construction Work Progresses At Kwara Hotel …Iconic Innovation Hub Nears Completion

The Kwara State Commissioner for Business, Innovation, and Technology (BIT), Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun, led a facility tour of the Kwara Hotel on Monday, highlighting significant progress in the massive remodeling efforts aimed at upgrading the hotel to meet international standards.

Currently, between 150 and 350 workers, predominantly Kwarans, are involved in the construction activities, which include substantial facility upgrades and expansions. Yusuf-Adelodun commended Craneburg Construction Company for surpassing the Ministry’s 25 percent completion target for this stage of the project.

“The work done so far has actually exceeded our initial timeline. From the Ministry’s assessment, this work has already reached 25 percent completion. Initially, it was supposed to be at 20 percent at this time. So the contractor is moving fast, and they are doing their work efficiently,” she stated.

“In the next few months, we hope it will move even faster. We are within the timeline. The decision to remodel Kwara Hotel is because it is a real legacy of Kwarans. Anybody who lives here knows the significance of Kwara Hotel, and His Excellency made a wise decision in turning it around in a manner never seen before.

“This is a completely new facility in terms of what is going in there. You can see the quality yourself. There is a central cooling system for each of the units, an automated fire system, an automated DMS system, and a solar component to power the hotel. This means that if there is no light from the national grid or the generators are not working (because we have more than three generators that will service this hotel), you will still be able to have light and maintain the operations of the hotel without any interruption.”

The Commissioner expressed appreciation for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s foresight in refurbishing the hotel, emphasizing its significance to the state. She reassured that the Ministry is committed to ensuring that the hotel meets international standards.

Project Manager Mohammed Yamout of Craneburg Construction Company assured that their firm, renowned for adhering to international standards, will deliver top-quality work within the stipulated period. He described the project as tantamount to constructing an entirely new hotel.

“Our contract has 24 months for delivery, starting from January 2024. We are doing our best and in line with the agreement. It is our promise to deliver it within the shortest time possible,” he said.

Yusuf-Adelodun also toured the Innovation Hub, aimed at promoting ICT startups and technology skills among the youth, as envisioned by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. She noted that the ICT Innovation Hub is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by the fourth quarter of the year.

“Already, we have a partnership with IHS Tower. As you can see from the top, the project is taking shape as envisioned by His Excellency. It is a one-of-its-kind facility in the country, capable of operating totally off-grid because of the solar system embedded into it. The project will attract startup and technological companies into the state, promoting ease of doing business and creating job opportunities for more than 10,000 young people.”