Gov. AbdulRazaq joins APC gov campaign flag off in Kogi

Gov. AbdulRazaq joins APC gov campaign flag off in Kogi

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will today join his brother-Governors and elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the official flag off of the Governorship Campaign in neighbouring Kogi State.

Recently rated as the most performing Governor in the country’s North Central Region, AbdulRazaq was recently nominated among the APC Governors to lead the re-election campaign of his counterpart in Kogi, Governor Yahya Bello.

The party had recently inaugurated a 56-member National Campaign Council to prosecute the Kogi election.

That comes amid rising national commendations that have greeted AbdulRazaq’s progressive policies in Kwara State, including the nomination of nine women, or 56.25% of total cabinet pick, as commissioner-designates.

The More Women Group, an amalgam of at least 169 women bodies across Nigeria, on Friday issued a statement praising AbdulRazaq for breaking the yoke of poor representation of women and youths in governance in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi and Ms Felicia Onibon on behalf of the group said “this gesture will be recorded in history as the first of its kind in Nigeria….The appointment demonstrates his support for women voices and serves as a recognition of their relevance in the society.”

The More Women Group has long established itself as the voice of women, including female professionals and experts representing different regions, ethnicities, economic, social and political allegiances as well as organisations for youths and persons with disabilities.

The group said “modelling a best practice of this nature is important for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We therefore applaud the first SHERO Governor for breaking the cycle of women’s exclusion in Nigeria. We applaud the All Progressives Congress (APC) for supporting this development in the state and call on all other state Governors to imbibe the culture of equitable representation for better and prosperous governance.”

Kwara trains team ahead National Livestock Plan takeoff

Kwara trains team ahead National Livestock Plan takeoff

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration has keyed into the Federal Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to drive economic growth, create jobs, and equip farmers/herders with necessary tools to thrive in the agribusiness.

The Governor dropped this hint at a two-day training programme in Ilorin, the state capital, on the implementation of the pilots under the NLTP for state livestock transformation officers and project management officers (SLTOs/PMOs). The training was held between Monday and Tuesday.

“We both have a shared goal of supporting investments in the livestock value chains that will catalyse sustainable economic growth, create more jobs and equip farmers with the necessary tools to thrive in the agricultural sector,” said AbdulRazaq, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Aminu Adisa Logun.

The trainees, drawn from various sectors of the state, were taken through topics like Overview of NLTP; Technical Inputs on Economic Core Pilar; Investment Promotion: the Role of the State Team; and Technical Inputs on Conflict Resolution, Justice and Peace, Humanitarian Relief and Early Recovery.

AbdulRazaq said the government has assembled a robust project management team that will be supervised by a steering committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the State Government to fully benefit from the initiative.

He thanked Abuja for supporting the state’s agribusiness agenda, noting that Kwara has no option than to seek ways of increasing the productivity of its dairy and beef in order to remain competitive.

“We believe that strategic collaborations with critical stakeholders in the industry is pivotal to achieving defined and well-tailored objectives and results….We need to significantly increase the productivity of our livestock (dairy and beef) as well as reduce cost of production if we are to remain competitive,” he said.

“Our cost of production of a kilogram of beef, estimated at $6 per kg, is one of the world’s highest, compared to $4/kg in Netherlands and $2.5/kg in India.”

He maintained that Kwara needs to transform its “athletic cows” into “business cows” and to create several businesses along the chain to enhance sustainability and profitability.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Dr. Andrew Kwasari, for his part, said the success of the federal government’s policy on agriculture lies solely on its adoption at the state level.

Stressing that Nigeria’s problem is not about policy formulation but the will to implement it, Andrew said the NLTP needs the critical support of all states of the federation to actualise the objectives.

He commended the level of competence and engagement of the participants, hoping that they will be able to make the NLTP a huge success in Kwara State.

Kwasari commended Abdulrazaq for putting together a vibrant and youthful team which he said was about the youngest he has seen any of the states participating in the programme so far. He also lauded the state government for playing an active role in maintaining friendly relationship between the farmers and herdsmen in the state.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
23rd October, 2019.

Kwara Gov is a man of his word – APC Women Leader

Kwara Gov is a man of his word – APC Women Leader

The remaining list of the nominees for the commissioners was released yesterday by the Kwara State Governor. He had earlier sent the 10 names of nominees to the Kwara State of Assembly. However the Governor has made another history on Tuesday by making 60% of the list goes in the favor of women. Whereas of 16 nominees sent to KWHoA, 9 of them are women.

Meanwhile the Kwara State APC women leader, Hajia Abolaji Rahmat Alake applauds the Governor for fulfilling the promise to compensate Women in the state as a result of none woman occupied the elective positions during the last election in the State.

”After the general election, Gov AbdurRahman pledged to all Women in the state that he would counterbalance in the appointment position, for the 100% of elective posiserv went to men. Thus, He has proved himself as a man of his word by the nomination of 9 women as commissioners in the state”, Said the Women Leader.

Hajia Alake said that women participation in politics can make a difference that benefits whole society because women are known to give more attention to social welfare and legal protection. She equally congratulated all the nominees and enjoined them to see their subsequent appointments as a call to serve humanity.

 

Hajia Abolaji Rahmat Alake                                      Kwara State APC Women Leader

Kwara APC Applauds Kwara Gov Over Cabinet Appointment and State-wide Infrastructural Improvement

Kwara APC Applauds Kwara Gov Over Cabinet Appointment and State-wide Infrastructural Improvement

The All Progressive Congress, APC Kwara Central has applauded the political sagacity of governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in the selection and appointment of credible, knowledgeable and intelligent persons as cabinet members of his government.

The Kwara Central APC Chairman, Mallam Abdullateef Alakawa in a statement issued to newsmen in Ilorin expressed optimism that the carefully selected cabinet members would form a formidable team that would in turn significantly help the governor to deliver the dividends of democracy to Kwarans as enshrined in the Ò TÓ GÉ Mantra.

The party expressed its readiness, willingness and commitment to join hands with what it described cabinet of professionals and technocrats to help Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq deliver on his promises made to the people before, during and after the election.

It further urged the appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them, prioritise service to the people and avoid anything capable of undermining the determination of the Governor to make Kwara a better place for all.

The party therefore, assured Governor Abdulrazaq of its continuous and unalloyed support, at all times.

 

Gidado, A. Alakawa                                             Chairman                                                                        APC Kwara Central.

Kwara Gov makes history with commissioner-nominees’ list

Kwara Gov makes history with commissioner-nominees’ list

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday released an additional six-person commissioner-nominees’ list, with five more women added to what has now gone down in history as Nigeria’s most gender-friendly government cabinet.

The latest list, which again reflects the state’s demography, means that Kwara now has nine women (56.25%) and seven men (43.75%) commissioner-nominees who included top bureaucrats, enterpreneurs, educators, professionals and grassroots politicians.

Kwara has 16 local government areas.

The latest nominees are Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West); Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun); Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin); Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero); and Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro).

The full list came five months after the governor apologised to and pledged to compensate for women’s loss at the general election in which 100% of the elective positions went to men, according to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.

The list was unveiled on Tuesday at the Kwara State House of Assembly where Speaker Yakubu Danladi said the screening of the nominees would begin next Tuesday, October 29.

AbdulRazaq had initially released a four-woman list which was followed a few weeks ago by another list of six men.

The latest nominees are Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West); Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun); Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin); Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero); and Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro).

An entrepreneur and renowned community development advocate, 38-year-old Harriet hailed from Okeayo/Ora community in Ifelodun local government area of the state.

She was an officer at Surveillance Department of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) Abuja between 2007 and 2011 and was until the appointment the Chief Operating Officer of M&P Micro Credit Scheme. Harriet, a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has contributed immensely to her community’s development, including the ongoing relocation of Ora Community Grammar School, construction of the AWUA bridge that connects her local government to Isin local government.

Harriet is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State Polytechnic and Abadina College of the University of Ibadan.

Fatima Bisola, who holds a postgraduate Diploma in Education from Usman Dan Fodiyo University, graduated from the Department of English of the University of Ilorin in 2011 . She attended Federal Government Girl’s College Omu Aran.

The 30-year-old nominee is currently an employee of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), attached to the Sheikh AbdulSalam Junior Secondary School, Ilorin.

The nominee is an author of two publications: Aesthetics of Africanism in Camara Laye’s African Child and Radiance of the King and Effect of Mother Tongue Interference in Spoken English.

Deborah, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Ado-Ekiti, currently teaches at the ECWA Secondary School Omu Aran.

The 45-year-old nominee has taught for over 10 years. She is a leader of the Irewolu Cooperative Society which facilitates women’s access to small loans and credit as part of the community’s efforts to empower women in small scale businesses.

Funke, 57, holds a Bachelor of Education (Guidance and Counselling) from University of Ado-Ekiti and Nigeria Certificate of Education from Kwara State College of Education Ilorin (Integrated Science).

She worked at the Kwara SUBEB as School Support Officer (SSO) between 1980 and 2015 where she retired as a Deputy Director.

Funke, a chieftain of the ruling APC, was Organising Secretary of APC Women Elders’ Forum and Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the Women Teachers Association of Nigeria.

Florence, 31, holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry. She is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and National Teachers’ Institute Kaduna.

She was until her appointment the Administrative Manager and Public Relations Officer at Roemichs International School Ilorin. She also worked at Dabco Nigeria Limited Ilorin.

Florence is a member of the ruling APC who participated in the party’s electoral campaigns. She has always been a political activist in her locality where she has acted as female youths leader and canvasser.

Rotimi, a 38-year-old political and community development campaigner, was until his appointment the Energy Development Coordinator for the BUA International Limited where he was Projects Coordinator at the conglomerate’s multimillion dollars Lafiagi Sugar Company.

He was between 2013 and 2015 the Manager, Gas and Power Package at Bua Edo Cement, a subsidiary of the Bua Group in Edo State. He was also Energy Development Coordinator of Epe Power Generation Limited, another subsidiary of the BUA Group.

Rotimi is an alumnus of the Newcastle University, United Kingdom, where he bagged a Post Graduate Diploma in Pipeline Engineering in 2009. He read Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ilorin where he graduated in 2006. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

A scion of an influential political family from Moro local government, he has expertise and interests in Agriculture, Plant Mechanics, People Development, Supply Chain Management, and Workshop Efficiency, among others.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
22 October, 2019

We’ll build a viable, prosperous state through SMEs: Kwara Gov

We’ll build a viable, prosperous state through SMEs: Kwara Gov

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend said his administration’s upcoming social investment programme has been designed to fund small businesses, artisans, and lift many people out of the poverty bracket.

“This journey has begun with the passage of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme Bill by the State Assembly. We will make sure to redistribute wealth to our people, lift many people out of the poverty line, and support small and medium scale businesses to grow,” the governor said at the Omu Aran Day celebration on Saturday.

“Kwara South, like the northern senatorial district, has huge potentials in tourism and agriculture, especially agroprocessing. The great traditional displays here today attest to this. We are seeking partnerships to attract investments to these sectors. On our part, we are going to commit a lot of money into opening up our state with rural roads and basic amenities like decent schools, sanitation facilities, and functional primary healthcare system. We have recently paid RAAMP counterpart funding.”

AbdulRazaq also said efforts are ongoing to strengthen security across the state and put in place modest infrastructure to facilitate development in the hinterlands, adding that the best strategy to build a viable state was to help small businesses to grow through funding and infrastructure.

“Our administration is also working on putting in place the necessary security architecture to protect lives and properties. We are seriously working to ensure that normal banking operations resume in our major towns like Offa, Omu Aran, Patigi and so on. The current situation where full time banking operations are restricted to the state capital is not acceptable,” he added.

AbdulRazaq also promised to look into the requests of Omu Aran community in the area of infrastructure and water.

ODA President Bisi Adeyemi, for his part, called on the state government to look into the infrastructure deficit in the town, including the lack of any public tertiary institution there and the abandonment of the Omu Aran township road by the last administration.

“We are hopeful that the present government of the people in Kwara, led by our indefatigable Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will not hesitate to carry Omu Aran along in its water revolution in Kwara State,” Adeyemi said.

The event, which included the launching of a N500m development fund for the town, was attended by many dignitaries from within and outside the state, including Kwara State Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Senator Sulaiman Ajadi; House of Representatives member Raheem Tunji Ajuloopin; founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide Dr David Oyedepo; Olupo of Ajasse Ipo Oba Sikiru Woleola II; Elese of Igbaja Oba Ahmed Babalola Awuni Arepo III; and Olomu of Omu Aran Oba AbdulRaheem Oladele Adeoti (Olomu Efon II).

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
20 October, 2019.

Kwara gov sends six additional commissioner-nominees to Assembly

Kwara gov sends six additional commissioner-nominees to Assembly

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRahman on Wednesday sent to the House of Assembly a list of six additional commissioner-nominees, comprising top-notch professionals and administrators with rich political backgrounds.

This comes a few weeks after AbdulRazaq unveiled a list of four women commissioner-nominees, including the 26-year-old Joanna Kolo.

The new nominees are Barrister Salman Jawondo (Asa); Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi (Baruten); Dr. Raji Razaq (Ekiti); Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen (Kaiama); Wahab Agbaje (Whyte, Offa); and Murtala Olarewaju (Oyun).

With 29 years of post-qualification experience as a lawyer, Jawondo is almost synonymous with the longstanding struggle to change the political status quo in Kwara with his numerous court cases and advocacy to challenge what he considered the anti-people decisions of the previous administrations.

Barrister Jawondo is an alumnus of the University of Lagos where he read Law between 1986 and 1989. He was at the Nigerian Law School between 1989 and 1990. A disciplinarian and no-nonsense lawyer, he is a member of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in the North Central Zone and was Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, between 2009 and 2011. He is the founder of the Jawondo &Co., Legal Practitioners. He is from Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

A former chairman of Baruten Local Government and a grassroots politician, Aliyu Kora Sabi has a Bachelor’s degree in Education (Guidance and Counselling), PostGraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters degree in Public Administration from Universities of Ado Ekiti and Ilorin, among others. He taught in various schools and served as a senior administrative officer in his Baruten local government for nearly two decades.

Sabi, who was born in 1970, is from Yashikira town of Baruten Local Government area of the state.

Born in 1979, Raji Razaq is the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Health Centre Agwara, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

A polyglot, Dr Razaq attended the University of Ilorin for his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery between 2000 and 2006; the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, for his Master in Public Health between 2015 and 2017. He was the NYSC Chief Medical Director, Kebbi State Camp Clinic in 2007 and an aspirant for the House of Representatives in Ekiti/Oke Ero/Irepodun/and Isin Federal Constituency.

He hails from Osi in Ekiti Local Government area of the state.

Architect Saifudeen hails from Kaiama Local Government area of Kwara State. He holds a Bacherlor’s degree in Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture — both from the University of Jos between 1993 and 1999.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

Saifudeen has worked with various local and multinational firms in his area of expertise, including French-owned Bouygues Nigeria Limited where he was Assistant Design Manager; Lebanese Sageto Limited where he was Project Coordinator; and Crushed Rock Industries Nigeria Limited owned by Germans.
He is the Managing Partner at Constyle Services Limited; Chairman of Fiasminat Limited; a partner at Kab Development Services. Saifudeen is an accredited resource person with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and a member of the Education Sub-Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

Murtala Olarewaju is a grassroots politician, an administrator and a teacher. He attended Federal College ofEducation Kontangora for his National Certificate of Education; Kwara State Polytechnic for his Higher National Diploma; and Ladoke Akintola University for his Master in Public Administration. He also has Teacher Grade II Certificate from New Bussa Teachers College Niger State.

He taught at various schools between 1982 and 1998. He was an administrative officer with the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission between 1998 and 2017. He retired as Deputy Director of Administration in 2017. Olarewaju hails from Ijagbo town in Oyun Local Government Area of the state.

A successful businessman and administrator, Wahab Agbaje (Whyte) holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Ladoke Akintola University. He also bagged High National Diploma in Accounting from Kwara State Polytechnic and National Diploma in Accounting from Federal Polytechnic Nasawara.

Agbaje is the Managing Director of Whyte and Associates Nigeria Limited. He is the Community Representative of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Offa. A senior member at the Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Management, Agbaje has had at least 12 years experience in educational and business administration, conflict resolution, agriculture, revenue mobilisation, construction and contract negotiations.

Whyte, as he is fondly called, has been a grassroots politician since 1990. He was a member of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee for President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (2018) and Director of Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Campaign Organisation (2018). Agbaje was National Vice Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP. He was elected state chairman of the party in 2006. He was also councillor-elect Shawo South West Ward, Offa Local Government in 1996.

Presidential tribunal verdict, true reflection of people’s wish, says AbdulRazaq

Presidential tribunal verdict, true reflection of people’s wish, says AbdulRazaq

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

“Given the unprecedented margin of victory that Mr. President recorded in our state, Kwara, and the very glaring acceptability of his candidature across the country, I have always known that any legal challenge to his victory was just an academic exercise because the people have spoken clearly,” AbdulRazaq said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.

“Without predudice to the right of the opposition to seek redress as they did, the judgment of the presidential election tribunal only affirmed the position of the people of Nigeria who appreciate the discipline, integrity, patriotism, and commitment of Mr. President to a better Nigeria.”

He said the judgment was a victory for the ordinary Nigerians who stood for many hours on the queue to cast their ballot in the election.

AbdulRazaq also commended the erudition of the President’s legal team who the Governor said remained focus “even in the face of every-day propaganda by the opposition.”

He called on Nigerians across party lines to rally round the President to deliver more dividends of democracy.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Kwara Gov orders refund of exam charges to principals, Vice principals

Kwara Gov orders refund of exam charges to principals, Vice principals

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has ordered immediate refund of N2000 and N1500 examination charges that the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) collected from teachers who applied to become principals and vice principals across the state.

AbdulRazaq reasoned that there was no basis for such charges since all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government now get their running cost since he came on board, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.

The statement said the over 100 applicants for the positions who sat the evaluation examination last Wednesday had been asked to pay the fee as was the practice before but the administration objected to it on the ground that the government had already paid for running cost that covers such exercise.

TESCOM has complied with the Governor’s directive as over 90% of the applicants have been refunded, the statement said, quoting the TESCOM’s supervisory Permanent Secretary, Bayo Onimago.

“The directive has been complied with immediately. Almost all the affected principals and Vice principals have been refunded,” the statement quoted Onimago as saying.

A key development in Kwara’s civil service since AbdulRazaq’s ascension was the restoration of running cost to the ministries — a step that has gone a long way in energising the civil service to perform its roles as the government’s engine room.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Kwara Gov says sports could be Nigeria’s ‘soft power’

Kwara Gov says sports could be Nigeria’s ‘soft power’

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday said sports could be a means of Nigeria projecting soft power to the world if the local talents are properly developed and motivated.

“It’s my hope that the government at all levels should develop a sectoral plan strategy to transform sports into an industry that empowers our teeming youths for social and economic development,” AbdulRazaq said in a speech at the closing ceremony of the 5th National Youths Games at the University of Ilorin in Ilorin, the state capital.

“Sports should not just be for mere recreation; it should be an important tools for image projection and diplomacy, a source of soft power, and a big industry that can engage the youths who would otherwise have channelled their abundant energy to other untoward activities.”

AbdulRazaq commended all the participants for their sportsmanship and hailed the Sports Ministry and the host university for their efforts that resulted in the success of the game.

“All of you are winners. The fact that you all came here from across the country shows your efforts to win,” he said.

“I hereby congratulate the organisers of this event. It is a fantastic event, hosting up to 4000 youths is a phenomenal thing. I salute Delta, Lagos in specific, I cannot call all states.”

He pledged to make the event better next year, including ensuring that the state contingent performs better.

“This is a new government, and we have seen what can be achieved and what is achievable. Certainly next year it is going to be a better event. This is my first time to this event, next year we would come in full force. And we believe there will be progression and growth because the number of the participants in this edition surpassed last year’s, and next year we hope to have more,” he added.

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
16 September 2019.