Oba Ghandi effect: Another innovation hub opens in Ogbomoso - 'We're inspired by monarch'

Oba Ghandi effect: Another innovation hub opens in Ogbomoso – ‘We’re inspired by monarch’

Femi OGUNLANA

Oluseun Onigbinde CEO of Oluseun Onigbinde Resource Centre Ogbomoso

Oluseun Onigbinde Resource Centre, an innovation hub, was inaugurated Tuesday in Ogbomoso Oyo state Nigeria.

The centre located at the Oluwusi Building, Sabo, adds to the growing facilities to realise the vision of transforming Ogbomoso into a tech cum innovation hub.

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ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls months ago, Ennovate Lab, a multi-million naira complex, similarly opened at LAUTECH area.

The Oluseun Onigbinde Resource Centre first became operational few years ago at Oke-Ado Sabo area utilised by students and other youths as a workstation, library and so on providing high speed internet access and other facilities; but due to its rapidly expanding clienteles it has been re-invented.

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According to the director of the resource centre, Mr. Oluseun Onigbinde, the need to find a bigger place became inevitable, informing the leadership style and aspiration of the reigning Soun His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III whom he disclosed he had known in the United States of America, further inspired him to re-package the place.

Dignitaries graced the occasion including Oba Olaoye represented by the Areago of Ogbomosoland High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin and other traditional rulers among whom were the Onikose of Ikose Oba James Ilufoye, Alabaa of Abaa Oba John Ayanpoju, and Alaroje of Aroje Chief Oyedola Sulaiman Osuolale. Also, Professor Julius Kola Oloke (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH Ogbomoso), who delivered the keynote address; family members of Oluseun Onigbinde, from Asipa compound, Masifa Ogbomoso among whom is Dr Akin Onigbinde, a former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, attended the epoch-making event.

The Areago of Ogbomosoland High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin

The Areago conveyed the congratulatory message of the Soun urging more indigenes to hearken to the call for investing in the city. He implored Mr. Oluseun Onigbinde to convince others to “think home.”

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“On behalf of His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, l congratulate and thank you for siting a facility like this in Ogbomoso. It aligns with the dream of Kabiyesi. I charge Ogbomoso indigenes at home and in the diaspora to emulate Mr. Seun Onigbinde, our people should be inspired and cooperate in the efforts to build their town.

“We thank you, you could have sited it in Lagos or Ilorin. Mr. Seun, help us convince your friends to contribute to the development of their birthplace.”

High Chief Otolorin was elated the vision of Oba Ghandi is gradually being realised disclosing the resource centre makes it the third notable investment inspired to Ogbomoso from the US through the instrumentality of the monarch. “This is the third investment outfit from the US, we have a hotel, Ennovate Lab (The Assembly) and this one. Others are coming,” the Areago said with a hint of pride.

Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN) in his goodwill message, recalled, “I used to attend political meetings at this place so l am surprised at the transformation it has witnessed, it’s marvelous.”

Akin Onigbinde SAN

Commending the gesture of his nephew, the Baamofin of Ogbomosoland noted, “One of the key things l want to emphasize is that no one will come and develop Ogbomoso for us, we must do it ourselves. Whatever God gives us as privileges we must commit to develop the town. I am happy that Seun acknowledged and thanked Kabiyesi for the quality and type of leadership he is giving to Ogbomoso.

“We want to encourage many of our people to contribute their own quota to the development of Ogbomoso. This place is a gift not only to Ogbomoso but to this country. It is a gift to humanity, gift to this generation.”

In his keynote address, titled “Ogbomoso: The role of innovation in community transformation,” Professor Oloke, a former Vice Chancellor of Cornerstone University, Ibadan, declared the centre as a “very resourceful place that is going to transform Ogbomoso.”

Prof Oloke

Oloke observed, “Innovation is very very important,” describing the concept “as a product or service renewed and brought up to date so it can serve us better.”

He underlined that innovation plays a vital role in community transformation “through improving quality of life and engendering sustainable development.”

The professor of microbiology and biotechnology noted innovation helps to solve local challenges like job creation, improved access to education, skill development, healthcare transformation and so on.

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Using healthcare transformation as a case study he noted that “if we are healthy we will live long without becoming vegetables and we will be highly productive.”

He identified “brainstorming,” individually and collectively, as a way to becoming an innovator saying it would help to “create new ideas and update existing ones.”

Oluseun Onigbinde with mum

Olusegun Onigbinde Resource Centre

Some youths among whom are LAUTECH students in brief testimonies confirmed the centre served their needs and aided their growth. Matthias Ayoola, a graduate of Electrical Electronics Engineering from LAUTECH, said, “It gingered my life. I was able to turn challenges into triumphs. I used their tools. With the resources available at the Onigbinde Centre l was able to connect with my clients.”

This is as Precious (a social media manager) and Ridwan Adewole (a soft engineer) hailed the facility, submitting likewise the centre provided them with opportunities to connect with professionals and experts.

In his remark, the visioner, Mr. Onigbinde stressed, “I knew His Imperial Majesty in the US, he was our pastor. I was surprised when he said he was coming to become Oba. In fact, he christened all my children in the US. Kabiyesi inspired me to come to Ogbomoso, he captivated my heart about what is in Ogbomoso, it is amazing. We didn’t use to come but l came because of his prompting. He is open-minded. I was excited when he was nominated as the Oba, we will now pay more attention to Ogbomoso.”

He observed a pattern unfolding, “Few months ago, Ennovate Lab (The Assembly) opened in Ogbomoso and now our repackaged centre, we also have SQI College, we will be collaborating. We have a university of technology, we should leverage on that, people should come here. We moved to this new place because our former place became inadequate. Ogbomoso is a secondary city, not a state capital but we can up the ante. We can make the town a tech hub, Silicon Valley is not the only tech hub in the US, there are others, Ogbomoso can become one in Nigeria.”

He emphasized the place aligns with the 25 year-development plan of Oba Ghandi affirming it would help to build the next generation of leaders, build bridges to transform Ogbomoso through innovation, and sharpen minds towards attaining global excellence.

The open data advocate and entrepreneur further informed the centre would catalyse development by helping people on one hand to proffer solutions to local problems and fertilise ideas. It will help in instituting training programmes, intensive training for secondary schools’ students, organising debate competitions, offering scholarship programmes, computer training, providing workspace for children, leadership development and promotion of innovation, collaboration, giving of challenges to students to solve like innovatively building things, providing solutions like in waste recycling, enhancing community health, etc. “This is a place for people to think. It is a catalyst for creativity.”

He said the project is a ten-year experiment assuring it would be bigger.

The co-founder and CEO of budgIT, a Nigerian civic startup, highlighted two main reasons for the huge investment – to stimulate development at home and for him to connect back home.

Google’s explanation on innovation hub

An innovation hub is a collaborative environment, either physical or virtual, that brings together innovators, experts, and resources to foster and develop new ideas, technologies, and business solutions. These hubs provide access to workspaces, training programs, networking opportunities, funding, and mentorship, serving as incubators and accelerators for startups and established companies alike. They play a crucial role in supporting digital transformation, driving economic growth, and tackling complex societal challenges by connecting diverse stakeholders like researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions.

From left: Onikose of Ikose, Areago, Oluseun Onigbinde, Alabaa of Abaa and Alaroje of Aroje

Key Characteristics of Innovation Hubs

Collaborative Environment: They are designed to encourage cooperation and the sharing of ideas among different individuals and organizations.

Resource Provision: Hubs typically offer access to infrastructure like co-working spaces, high-speed internet, and specialized equipment, as well as services such as training and business advisory.

Mentorship and Expertise: Experts in various fields provide guidance, knowledge transfer, and strategic support to innovators.

Networking Opportunities: They facilitate connections between entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and industry leaders.

Focus Areas: Hubs can specialize in specific sectors (e.g., fintech, health, agritech), or they can be generalist platforms for innovation and startups.

Community Building: They form communities of practice where talent can be nurtured and transformed into impactful solutions.

How Innovation Hubs Benefit Communities and Businesses

For Startups: They provide essential resources, mentorship, and access to capital, helping early-stage companies grow and scale.

For Established Companies: Hubs can help businesses adapt to digital transformation, identify new market opportunities, and develop innovative products and services.

For the Economy: They contribute to economic growth by fostering new technologies, creating jobs, and preparing the youth for the future of work and digital enterprise.

For Societal Impact: Innovation hubs can drive the development of solutions to local and global challenges in areas like health, energy, and education.