Global Knowledge Centre opens in Uyo, highlights investment in human capital

The commissioning of the Global Knowledge Centre in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has highlighted the growing importance of knowledge, innovation and human capital development in preparing young Nigerians for the future.

The centre, founded by the Convener of the Global Knowledge Festival, Amb. Mfon Ekpo, was commissioned during the 2026 edition of the festival, themed “The Convergence.”

The event attracted government officials, business leaders, creatives, innovators, academics and social impact advocates from Nigeria and beyond.

Speaking at the commissioning, Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno described the facility as an investment in the people’s intellectual and innovative capacity.

“The commissioning of the first Global Knowledge Centre in Africa is more than the opening of a building. It is an investment in knowledge, innovation and the future of our people,” Eno said.

He said the centre would create opportunities for learning and innovation while encouraging individuals and communities to explore new possibilities.

Also speaking, Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, said the project demonstrated what could be achieved when knowledge and human development were deliberately prioritised.

She described the centre as “a powerful statement about what is possible”, stressing the need to equip the next generation with the tools required to contribute to Africa’s development.

For Ekpo, the commissioning marked a deeply personal milestone.

Reflecting on her journey, she recalled that circumstances surrounding her birth once led someone to tell her that she would be “retarded”.

Years later, she stood at the centre she founded as it was formally commissioned, surrounded by leaders, innovators and other guests.

“I cried this morning,” Ekpo said, reflecting on the significance of the occasion.

Her experience formed part of the festival’s wider message, which seeks to connect people, ideas and opportunities through knowledge and innovation.

The Global Knowledge Centre is expected to provide a platform for learning, conversation, discovery, and the exchange of ideas, while the annual festival brings together stakeholders from different sectors.

Among those at the commissioning were Governor Eno; Olori Atuwatse III; veteran actor and filmmaker Richard Mofe-Damijo; businessman Dr Gabriel Ogbechie; Dr Busola Tejumola; Dr Nike Adeyemi; media entrepreneur Adebola Williams; media personality Chude Jideonwo; actress Ini Edo; and chess advocate Tunde Onakoya.

For Ekpo, the centre represents an effort to transform a personal experience into a broader vision of expanding access to knowledge and creating opportunities for others.

The Uyo commissioning therefore highlighted the role of knowledge, innovation, and human capacity development in shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s future.

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