UNILORIN Unveils 200-hectare Science Park To Attract Chinese Investors

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has unveiled plans to develop a 200-hectare Science, Technology and Innovation Park in Kwara State as part of efforts to attract Chinese investors, promote technology transfer and accelerate Nigeria’s industrial development.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, disclosed this at the NACCIMA B2B Investment Matchmaking Exchange 3.0 in Guangzhou, China, where he presented the project to more than 200 Chinese investors.

Egbewole said the proposed park would provide an integrated ecosystem for academic research, industrial production, technological innovation and private-sector investment, creating opportunities for manufacturing, agriculture and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He called for stronger collaboration between universities and the private sector, particularly in research commercialisation, technology transfer, industrial development and investment, noting that partnerships between educational institutions and businesses were critical to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

The event attracted key Nigerian and Chinese stakeholders, including the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Jani Ibrahim; Nigeria’s Consul-General in Guangzhou, Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas; and Vice-President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Huang Xiaofeng.

The university’s investment proposal attracted considerable interest from participants, particularly the 200-hectare Science, Technology and Innovation Park, which is designed to bring research institutions, technology companies, start-ups and industrial investors into a common business and innovation environment.

According to details published by Innovation Report, UNILORIN is developing supporting infrastructure, including roads, water and electricity, to facilitate the establishment and operation of businesses within the proposed park.

The project will leverage the university’s existing research capabilities, including approximately 52 patents, its laboratories, more than 70,000 students and a large pool of academic expertise.

The initiative is expected to provide Chinese investors and manufacturers with opportunities to establish production facilities, research centres, technology incubation hubs and joint ventures in Nigeria, while benefiting from the university’s research and technical capabilities.

The proposed park also aligns with efforts to strengthen the relationship between academia and industry by translating research findings into commercially viable products, services and industrial solutions.

Speaking at the investment forum, Egbewole emphasised the need for Nigeria to move beyond its traditional position as an import-dependent economy and become a competitive destination for manufacturing, technology investment and industrial production.

China’s industrial development experience, he noted, offers important lessons for Nigeria, particularly in building productive capacity, strengthening local industries and promoting research-driven enterprises.

The broader objective of the NACCIMA B2B engagement was to connect Nigerian businesses and institutions with credible Chinese investors capable of providing capital, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to support economic development.

Through its trade and investment facilitation initiatives, NACCIMA is seeking to promote opportunities that will encourage foreign investors to establish businesses, transfer technology and develop sustainable partnerships with Nigerian institutions and enterprises.

The UNILORIN Science, Technology and Innovation Park is expected to contribute to these efforts by positioning the university as a potential destination for industrial investment and research commercialisation.

The initiative also aligns with Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with industrial parks, manufacturing hubs and export-oriented investments expected to play significant roles in expanding productive capacity and driving economic growth.