Kwara State Government has honoured Craft Innovation Hub (CIH) for its contribution to youth development and socio-economic advancement, presenting the organisation with a Champion Award at the state’s 2026 International Youth Day celebration in Ilorin.
The award was presented on Thursday at the Ilorin Innovation Hub, where the Kwara State Ministry of Youth Development held the grand finale of activities commemorating International Youth Day, which is observed globally on 12 August.
The United Nations designated “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations” as the 2026 theme, highlighting young people’s shared aspirations for education, opportunity, decent work, meaningful participation and sustainable futures despite differences in their social and economic circumstances.
Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, presented the award to CIH Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Mr Abdulrasaq Ahmed Abiodun, who received it on behalf of the organisation, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Ahmed Nafisat. The presentation also involved the Commissioner for Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Usman Shehu, whose ministry organised the state celebration.
According to the award citation, CIH was recognised for its outstanding contribution, commitment and support to youth development and socio-economic development in Kwara State.
The recognition formed part of a broader programme celebrating individuals and organisations contributing to youth development across the state. The Kwara State Government said the grand finale brought together young people from all 16 local government areas, government officials, youth organisations, development partners and other stakeholders at the Ilorin Innovation Hub.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented at the programme by Secretary to the State Government Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development, agriculture, sports and employment.
Youth Development Commissioner Shehu also called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, development partners and youth organisations, while encouraging young people to see themselves as active participants in Kwara’s development rather than only beneficiaries of public programmes.
For Craft Innovation Hub, the award follows earlier engagements with the Ministry of Youth Development around practical skills and digital inclusion.
In July 2025, the Kwara State Government publicly expressed support for CIH following a visit by Shehu to its Agbo Oba facility. The ministry described the centre as an initiative designed to equip young people with digital, vocational and creative skills, while the commissioner said such efforts aligned with the government’s youth empowerment and skills-development agenda.
A month later, the ministry announced further collaboration around CIH’s Automate Kwara Initiative, a programme designed to expose young people to practical automation and no-code technologies, followed by structured mentorship. The commissioner described the initiative as timely and relevant to the state’s growing youth population.
CIH operates an integrated model combining technology and vocational training with employability, entrepreneurship and community-development interventions. Its programmes are structured around practical projects and pathways through which participants can move from skills acquisition towards employment, freelancing or enterprise.
Beyond skills development, the organisation has also undertaken community-focused interventions. In November 2025, Shehu flagged off a free health-screening programme organised by CIH in Ilorin, describing the intervention as complementary to government efforts around preventive healthcare and community wellbeing.
CIH’s post-event impact report recorded approximately 550 attendees and about 200 people screened, with services including cervical and breast screening, prostate-related tests, blood pressure and blood sugar checks. Beneficiaries were also able to receive results through SMS, email and an online portal.
The International Youth Day recognition therefore adds formal state acknowledgement to a relationship that has developed through youth skills programmes, digital innovation and community interventions.
The wider Kwara celebration also featured cultural performances, a panel discussion on youth participation in agriculture and preventive health services, reflecting the state’s emphasis on combining skills, entrepreneurship, wellbeing and economic participation in its youth-development agenda.
For CIH, the recognition places renewed attention on the next stage of its model: converting training and community programmes into measurable outcomes in employability, freelance participation, enterprise development and sustained social impact.
