…Babatunde Idiagbon bridge undergoing finishing touches

The Kwara State Government has again unequivocally affirmed that Kwara Hotels Limited is not for sale, as government is set to keep the legacy project and renovate it to meet the current international standards, therefore warned buyers to beware.

The State Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, reiterated government position on the above, during a live radio Yoruba programme, titled:  “Ọrọ Ilu” at Sobi FM today, Ilorin the State Capital.

Olukoju emphasized on the fact that Kwara Hotel is a legacy project and very dear to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration, therefore expressed its commitment to restoring its glory as one of the tourist attractions in the state.

“Let me unequivocally state here that, this administration, under the able leadership of the people’s Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is not interested in selling the hospitality outfit. Instead, the Governor, being a cosmopolitan and futuristic leader, aims at total renovation of the hotel, to align with global trends. A total overhaul will therefore be undertaken soon, in order to restore the edifice to its pride of place in Kwara State, and Nigeria at large.”

Addressing recent events at the hotel, Olukoju clarified; “the recent activity was due to the evacuation of spent items by registered auctioneers, who successfully bid for the items, having obtained approval from state government. This process was witnessed by Hon. Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun from Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Technology, in company of security Agents, to ensure a smooth operation.”

Commending Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s attention to details and commitment to due process over the issue, Olukoju assured Kwarans that Governor AbdulRazaq would always act in their best interest.

Regarding another legacy project of the present administration – the Babatunde Idiagbon overhead bridge, at Tanke, Olukoju disclosed that, “the bridge is undergoing finishing touches and will soon be commissioned for public use. I urge you therefore to disregard the unfounded rumour about a Chinese company advising that the bridge be demolished. Such claims is baseless. The project is secured and in excellent condition.”

On Kwara Garment Factory; “we anticipate employing thousands of workers. These are the kinds of employment opportunities His Excellency is creating for Kwarans, to as well boost the economy of the state.” The Commissioner revealed.

Furthermore, Olukoju disclosed that the Communications Ministry is ready to collaborate with Ilorin Innovation Hub and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation to create a portal with the aim of facilitating feedback between citizens and state government.

“This portal will enable people to comment on government policies, draw attention to issues requiring action and receive feedback from our end.” She concluded.

Ahmed, Abeeb Oredunni

Press Secretary

MoC

By Ishola Ibrahim

A few weeks into the last governorship election in Kwara State, the Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukola Saraki, gathered his bootlickers, aka Sarakites. He told them he had an assignment for them, and if they delivered, he would reward them handsomely.

What was the assignment about? They should use propaganda to bring the government of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON down. They had failed in their previous assignments, so propaganda should work. Those known for spreading falsehood in the State were asked to lead the team.

Immediately after the meeting, these poor fellows swung to action. They employed the worst falsehood that no politicians have ever used in Kwara politics. There was nothing they didn’t say and publish to soil the image of the AbdulRazaq-led administration. But guess what? Kwarans didn’t fall for their lies!

The governorship election came, and Saraki and his propaganda machines were severely defeated. Their macabre dance and falsehood against Governor AbdulRazaq’s government was a blessing for him as Kwarans decided to vote for the continuity of good governance.

However, when this essayist thought Saraki and his boys had learned their lessons from what their needless propaganda against the Governor caused them in the last gubernatorial election, they went their usual way, creating an imaginary feud between him and some members of his party.

My people have a way of describing the shameful manners of members of the PDP. They will say those who carry another person’s loads on their heads and hold theirs in their hands. The iron fist and corrupt leadership of Bukola Saraki have caused an unprecedented feud in the party. The Youth Leader of Kwara PDP, Mr. Haliru Dantsoho, said peace would not reign until Saraki vomits the 2023 campaign funds he swallowed.

Another member of the party and former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who is also tired of Saraki’s corrupt and dictatorial leadership, has been jumping from one media house to the other, saying how the Saraki-led Kwara PDP has lost its steam and can’t win the 2027 elections in the state. There are also cases of some members resigning their membership and leaving the party in droves over Saraki’s high-handedness.

But instead of members of the PDP focusing on their sick and dying party, what they are after is who is fighting who in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and who is not with Abdulrazaq. Shameless folks!

Gov AbdulRazaq and those they assumed he was fighting with are progressives and are committed to serving the good people of Kwara State. One thing is sure: If members of PDP do not divorce falsehoods, they will continue to ‘lu le’, which is even suitable for the good people of Kwara State.

• Factory will be largest in West Africa at full capacity: MD

• Says Aso Oke will be a top brand

Kwara State is now positioned to capture at least 2% of the global garment market when it begins full operations, with daily production of 10,000 garments from its newly set up factory that is the biggest in West Africa subregion, a top official has said.

The garment factory is one of the many initiatives of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to drive socio-economic growth in the state.

“There is a huge gap for ready-to-wear garments. Most Nigerians depend on imported goods. It is disheartening that we have a lot of creative talents in Nigeria, but they do not have the opportunity to mass produce. This is one of the gaps we intend to fill,” the managing director of the state’s garment factory Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji told reporters on a tour of the facility in Ilorin, the state capital.

“Here, we redefine garment production in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole. We will be involved in designing and manufacturing ready-to-wear garments for local, and international brands and corporate organisations. The global garment factory is largely dominated by Asian countries, particularly China which has 31.3% of the total market. But Africa has 6.7% of the market share and Nigeria has 2.7%. With this garment factory, we will command at least 2% of the market.”

Adedeji said the factory has some of the most sophisticated machines used in ready-to-wear garment production, including the Oshima automatic fabric cutting machine, which she said is the first of its kind to be commissioned in West Africa at the moment.

She said production of garments will begin in the first quarter of 2024 as the factory is currently hiring its first set of workers, adding that she is impressed by the quality of talents who have shown up since the exercise began.

“We are at the recruitment stage. We have all our equipment in place. All the machines have been tested. We have recruited supervisors. We are going to the next phase of recruitment, which will be recruiting the production workers. At this stage, we intend to employ 300 workers at the moment and full capacity, we intend to employ 4,000 workers,” Adedeji said.

“This is a much bigger one, compared to anyone that existed before. For the people of Kwara State, the coming of this factory means more revenue will be internally generated. It will open up the economy of the state along different value chains. When we start, there will be a boost in all sectors of the state economy from transportation to and fro within the town, catering services, supply of raw materials, and the like. It is a boost to the state economy. And when we start exportation, it will be a source of foreign exchange revenue for the state.

“Backward integration is part of the plan. Our technical partners will be with us for some months, and they are providing raw materials. But eventually, we intend to back-integrate and source our raw materials locally. Part of what we are looking at is setting up a farm to produce our cotton so that the prices of our products will be more competitive in the global market at any time. Once we have stable competitive prices, we are sure that we will be available for all markets.

“We have set up a department for high-quality control. There is a place to stack finished products. The products will not be allowed to leave this factory if they have not met the standards we put in place. So, at any point in time, quality control officers will be trained and rotated continuously so that our high standards are maintained.”

She said the setting up of the factory followed a clear feasibility study, which shows different gaps and the way to tap into the market and ensure sustainability.

“We are aware there is a gap and we are looking to fill the gap,” Adedeji said, adding: “We are looking at 10,000 garments daily because we’ve got a cutting machine which is one of its kinds in West Africa, at the moment. It can cut 10,000 outfits in an eight-hour shift. So, daily, we intend to produce 10,000 garments.

“Here, we have over 1500 machines and of course, we will have to employ up to 4000 workers. It is a source of empowerment and employment for the people. We are particularly sensitive to unskilled women and youths. We have a lot of talented youths, and it is an opportunity for them. It will not just be a garment factory; it will be a hub for creativity. We will encourage the youths to come and unleash their talents. It will be a place where creativity meets implementation. We will help them develop their talents.

“There is also going to be training opportunities for people who will not be working at the factory. We have training facilities for people who will just be trained for one or two months and use the talent elsewhere. Already, we have volunteers among fashion designers who are willing to come and train youths free of charge. We don’t need to pay them. But we will provide the facilities for them to do this that will be mainly for export.

“Our future sustainability plan is to go into public-private partnership. We believe that once the private sector is involved, their money is involved, and they are profit-driven, they will do anything to make sure it is sustained. That is what we are looking for in the future to ensure that it doesn’t slide into redundancy.

“We are aware that Ilorin is synonymous with Aso-Oke and some of the designers we have spoken to intend to use Aso-Oke materials for their production and ready-to-use garments for exports. We are going to tap into the Aso-Oke market and industry. Aso-Oke will be one of our main brands because it is our heritage.

“One of the main objectives of Kwara State Garment factory is to redefine the Nigerian garment manufacturing environment and achieve global recognition. KWSGF will manufacture all types of clothing according to specifications provided by customers placing bulk orders. KWSGF will deliver its services based on two contract types: mass production and small-scale production. KWSGF will be involved in the designing and manufacturing of ready-to-wear garments for local markets, brands, corporate organisations, and international markets.”

Bola Olukoju

Honourable Commissioner for Communications

December 11, 2023

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the implementation of a 100% Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for Nurses in the state.

Additionally, the governor approved the recruitment of more nurses to fill the vacuum created by the brain drain in the country and to improve the quality and standard of nursing care in line with the global best practices.

Chairman and Secretary of the Kwara State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Aminu Shehu and Markus Luka, respectively, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin.

The association appreciated the Executive Secretary of the state Hospital Management Bureau for playing a vital role in the struggle to ensure that the government met its demands.

Also, the association commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the approval and implementation of the 100% CONHESS and the recruitment of more nurses to boost healthcare delivery in the state.

•Gov pledges NGF continued support

International music icon, Onyeka Onwenu has commended the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on his ingenious ways of making women force to reckon with in not only Kwara but Nigerian politics.

Speaking at the fourth annual conference of Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, Onyeka Onwenu specifically thanked the Governor for his efforts on gender equality.

The award-winning female star, however, advised Nigerian men to tow the path of the Governor as he has mainstreamed gender inclusion in political leadership.

It would be recalled that in October this year, at the 7th Voice of Women (VOW) Conference and Awards in Abuja, the governor won a Lifetime Achievement Award for his transformational gender inclusion policy in the state.

Governor AbdulRazaq received a plaque specifically honouring his historic inclusion of an unprecedentedly high number of women in key leadership positions, including having the highest number of women in cabinet in the history of Nigeria.

Maureen Hinda-Mbuende, Namibian Deputy Finance Minister, said at the event that she is humbled by how much “the Governor of Kwara State has deployed the goodwill of his office to support women empowerment”.

In his remarks at the conference, Governor AbdulRazaq acknowledged the commitments of the NGSF to vigorously tackle gender-based violence and other unhealthy practices.

“The Forum has over the years played key roles in helping to drive a new national narrative around the issues of gender-based violence, gender parity, and women and girl-child empowerment.

“The successes of the previous conferences are glaring enough in the strength of their excellencies’ advocacies and the impressive outcomes so far. Notwithstanding the achievements of the past years, we are excited by the theme of this year’s conference — Youth Allies: Bridging Generations to End Violence. The theme officially brings into this discussion the most important and outspoken cohort that holds the key to many breakthroughs in our efforts to build a sustainable and safe society.

“The interesting thing is that this important demography is entirely a digital community. Variously called digital natives or virtual natives, depending on the years of their births, these cohorts have their peculiar cultures and preferences, including their preferred medium of learning and socialisation.

“I pledged our continued support at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for the important task of not just ending all gender-based violence but also ensuring a society that is fair and just. Together, we must work for an equitable society.

“On behalf of my brothers and colleagues at the NGF, I congratulate their excellencies on the fourth annual conference,” the Governor said.

In 2019, the Governor appointed a cabinet that had 56.25% female, apart from keeping some 50% slots for women permanent secretaries. He currently has a 50% female cabinet, including young commissioners.

He has also introduced legislation that mandates Kwara to have at least 35% gender parity in appointive political offices, including in the state bureaucracy.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Nigeria’s north-central Kwara State has gone down in history as the first African leader with the highest number of female cabinet members and political appointees.

Fafoluyi Olayinka

Senior Special Assistant, New Media to the Governor

December 5, 2023

•State targets 2000 jobs

The Kwara Garment Factory, a key vision of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is now a reality as its operational launch will be held in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

The initiative adjudged to be a factory of the future already has 570 sewing machines installed. The first in West Africa cutting machine with a capacity to cut 10,000 polo shirts per 8-hour shift.

Also installed is a 9-color, 12-hand embroidery machine capable of 1,000 stitches per minute. To back it up, a 6-color, 9-hand embroidery machine has also been installed.

These machines are currently undergoing pre-commissioning tests by the manufacturers.

The Governor has led the way by appointing a seasoned UK-trained business administrator, Hajia Bukola Adedeji as the Managing Director to oversee the manpower to power the factory.

She has been mandated to recruit applicants with the best CVs and since she assumed office, she has exhibited uncommon passion and dedication to the birth of the company.

The human resources search team consists of Stratica Consulting, a seasoned private sector human resources practitioner, an Ilorin-based fashion expert, Hajjwels and a representative of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology.

The team is adopting best practices and techniques in identifying the best hands among those who applied through the job portal made public by the state government to actualize the Governor’s vision.

Nothing is being left undone to make this project a reality and a pride of not just Kwara State but of Nigeria at large.

Another set of shortlisted online applicants will be invited for an aptitude test on the 14th of December 2023 for various operational roles within the factory.

The recruitment exercise at the Garment Factory will be continuous and in batches.

The garment factory is built to grow the state’s economy and 2,000 direct jobs will be created along its different value chains.

Fafoluyi Olayinka,

Senior Special Assistant, New Media to the Kwara State Governor.

December 4, 2023

It is on record that when the current administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq assumed office in 2019, Kwara Hotel, a 172-room facility, had below 20% of its room capacity functioning. Most of the rooms which serve as revenue lines were not in a tenantable condition. The hotel had also taken a weary look at so many infrastructural ruins. Similarly, huge liabilities were running into over N500 million inherited by the management and the present government arising from the mismanagement of the hotel under the last administration.

The public will recall that it was at the tail end of the administration of late Governor Muhammad Alabi Lawal that the last major investment and massive facelift was done at Kwara Hotel. This meant that the succeeding administration of Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki inherited more or less a brand new hotel which had every potential to turn the fortunes of the state around because the structure of Kwara Hotel gave it a unique edge over its competitors in the whole of Northcentral.

Unfortunately for over 16 years following the exit of Governor Muhammed Lawal’s administration, no value addition was made to the hotel other than the fact that it was passed from one set of cronies to another under the guise of private sector investment which was not a single kobo was invested but rather the revenues generated from the hotel over these extended periods were looted with impunity.

The public is rightly reminded that it was under the Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki-led administration that Austin Peters of KH Integrated Management Services (KHIMS) was appointed as a management consultant for the hotel. The terms of engagement required them to invest a minimum of Two million dollars which amounted to about Three Hundred and Sixty million naira at that time to upgrade the hotel infrastructurally and thereafter manage it for some years before ceding it back to the Kwara State GovernmeTherehere nothing bad in inviting a management consultant to run a company, but the misdemeanour lies in the fact that this management consultant never invested a dime in Kwara Hotel contrary to the terms of engagement.

To our utmost consternation, it also went ahead to borrow over N350 million from GT Bank in the name of the hotel which was paid back from the cash flow of the hotel which shows that the borrowed funds were diverted and never invested in the hotel. A case of double jeopardy you would say.

The management company continued to have a field day misappropriating all revenues being generated from the hotel on an average of N50 million monthly without carrying out as much as the renovation of a single room. By the end of 2016, the hotel was already in a full state of deterioration and it could no longer meet its obligations. It was in 2017 under the administration of Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed that this management consultant was shown the exit door leaving behind in its trail hundreds of millions of ion naira of owed and unpaid obligations both to staff and others.

Unfortunately for Kwarans and the hotel, the then government of Governor AbdulFatai Ahhat decided to sack the management consultant never had the political will to investigate the crimes committed against the hotel and the good people of Kwara State resulting in the accumulated indebtedness of over N500 million. The management of Harmony Holdings was directed to take over the debt without taking appropriate actions against the purported consultants hired by his predecessor even in the face of the mind-boggling mismanagement of the hotel, violation of terms of engagement and accumulated obligations.

The government thereafter paid the first tranche of the debt that was owed to workers and laid off a majority of them following the transfer of the management of the debilitated hotel to Harmony Holdings Limited with a promise to give the hotel a facelift either through direct investment or the sourcing of a private sector investor, but that never happened till the end of its two terms in office.

This is the sad tale of how KwHotelotel was systematically killed within sixteen years due to greed, avarice and putting personal interest above the collective interest of the people. Despite the situation inherited at Kwara Hotel where most of the rooms had already become untenantable, with other facilities that generate revenue for it deteriorated, and in the face of a huge debt portfolio, the current administration has never shied away from taking responsibility and addressing the issue frontally. It was clear that tackling such an iswouldwill take time and resources. Nonetheless, the government was very keen that the hotel must not go into extinction.

It’s important to state that the hotel has been operating on a perpetual loss trajectory for over five years now and the major source of support has been from the various interventions we have received from the Kwara State government both in terms of deliberate patronage to keep us in business and also throbailout out funds at timely intervals to augment salary payment. All through the COVID-19 period when the hotel like others shut down operations and had little or no income, we didn’t lay off a single staff, all salaries that were paid within that power were from the state government’s intervention date, the hotel like some other ailing subsidiaries of Harmony Holdings has beneficiaries from multiple rounds of bailout both from Harmony Holdings the parent company and particularly the Kwara State government.

On the issue of the inherited indebtedness from the previous management consultants, our management has done what the previous management of Harmony Holdings under the government Dr AbdulFatai Ahmed could not do by petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on misdemeanour and profligacy of KHIMS, the management consultant used by former Governor Saraki to destroy Kwara Hotel which is one of our most priced heritage.

This style of destructionpubliclyblic owned assets through consultants is not only limited to Kwara Hotel, it’s about the same way they committed infractions at Shonga Farms, Kwara Mall, Kwara Furniture Company, Kwara Paper Converters, Erin-Ile, amongst others. We wish to use this medium to assure Kwarans that we will continue to do the needful in ensuring that our collective patrimony as represented by these legacy assets and investments is made to work for the state and its people even in the face of uncommon blackmail, sabotage and campaign of calumny.

Finally, Kwarans have always been agitated about the state of most of its investments and the real reason behind the inability of Harmony Holdings which was established in 2012 to provide strategic turnaround management of all the state-owned enterprises of the Kwara State government to achieve the objective for which it was established. The reasons are numerous but the most important one is the fact that following the transfer of all moribund companies to the newly established entity, it was recommended that it should be capitalised with a minimum of N2.5 billion to effectively turn around all the companies and operate them productively and profitably.

It is on record that although the previous government obtained a loan from a bank to execute some strategic economic development projects wherein about N4bn was earmarked as capitalisation allocation to Harmony Holdings on paper, only about N400 million was transferred to the company as initial capital and till, date they have not been able to explain what happened to the about N3.5 billion naira balance.

Sadly, the paltry capital was also not managed judiciously by the pioneer management of the investment company leaving it insolvent across the board when this current management took over. The few entities that showed little signs of viability had already been transferred to other cronies in the name of joint ventures leaving behind only those with huge liabilities, large recurring overhead and running costs and grounded operational assets.

These are some of the historical challenges that had confronted Harmony Holdings from inception and the state in which we inherited it and have been committing concerted efforts to turn around. As much as we believe that government and corporate administrations are a continuum, it is only fair that the people know where we are coming from and the challenges that we work every day to confront. Our sleeves will continue to roll up as we work assiduously day and night through thick and thin to justify the people’s confidence in this administration.

Thank you

… Says, roaming of mentally challenged persons, socially appalling

The Kwara state Government in its concerted effort to rid the state of all societal menace and vices, has described begging and roaming the streets by people with mental challenges as condemnable and socially appalling.
This was expressed by the Commissioner for Social Development, Hon. Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade during the recently concluded general evacuation exercise carried out by the Ministry within the State capital.

Hon. Afolashade lamented the menace of persistent street begging regarded as a viable business venture among some people, despite a series of dialogues, media sensitisation, and numerous social interventions of the government to the physically challenged and vulnerable in the State.
“The evacuation exercise is part of the Ministry’s responsibilities and a means to further ensure that the society is cleansed from any form of societal menace, thereby promoting environmental hygiene and values for the state”, the Commissioner emphasized.
She explained further that Kwara State would not condone street begging as it is against the law of the state; and depicts laziness, while the roaming of mentally challenged persons also poses a danger to society.
Hon. Afolashade, during the exercise, reiterated that the exercise would be continuous, adding that the Ministry would no longer take the menace with levity, warning all those involved to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
Meanwhile, in the course of the exercise, there were resistance and physical assaults on the officers of the Ministry, but Officers of the Civil Defense were on the ground to restore normalcy.
The Commissioner thus appreciated the pro-activeness and expertise demonstrated by the officers during the exercise while seeking the Corps continued support in subsequent assignments.
The evacuation team toured the Post Office/Taiwo-Isale, Tipper garage, Challenge/Unity road and Challenge/GRA axis of the State capital and evacuated no fewer than 88 mentally challenged persons and beggars who were taken to one of the Ministry’s Rehabilitation homes for treatment, prosecution and possible repatriation.

• _As govt restates commitment to deepen access to quality healthcare_

• _About 4000 enrollees now accessing free medical care in Edu, Patigi: Dr. Jetawo-Winter_

Kwara State Health Insurance Agency on Tuesday inaugurated another regional office in Lafiagi, Edu local government of the state to serve the people of Kwara North.

This comes two weeks after opening the same at General Hospital Offa to render services for communities under the Offa and Oyun local governments.

The Lafiagi’s office, which is located inside the General Hospital Lafiagi, is designed for communities in Edu, Patigi and some parts of Ifelodun local governments.

At the opening ceremony on Tuesday, the Kwara First Lady Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, said the step further demonstrates that the government is sensitive to the yearnings of people and their right to a decent life.

Represented by the wife of the TIC Chairman for Edu LG, Mrs Aminat Aliyu, Ambassador AbdulRazaq implored the people in the catchment areas to embrace the programme to enhance their health status.

She hailed the leadership of Kwara State Health Insurance Agency for their ceaseless efforts to make the health policies and programmes of the administration a reality.

The First Lady said the government will not relent in its efforts and investments in projects that can raise the living standards of the citizens

The interactive session attracted the TIC Chairman for Edu LG Hon. Aliyu Labasa, represented by Hon Abdullahi Zainab; a representative of the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Sanni Muhammad Lukpan; some community and religious leaders; healthcare providers from primary healthcare centres in Edu and Patigi; existing beneficiaries of the insurance scheme; and dozens of residents from Edu and Patigi.

Executive Secretary of State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, in her introductory remarks, said the move to open regional offices in several parts of the state was to widen the awareness of people about the concept and deepen their access to affordable healthcare services.

“Today, we are here and excited to officially open the second hub in the state, in the great town of Lafiaji.

This office will serve Edu, Pategi, and parts of Ifelodun LGAs of the state. These regional hubs will provide the same services to the people in these catchment areas, just as we would have provided from our office in Ilorin,” she said.

“We understand that because health insurance provision to the populace in Nigeria is still very new, we have an arduous task ahead of us to ensure that every resident of Kwara is familiar with the concept of health insurance, and understands the benefits that would accrue to them once they onboard”.

She said the insurance is the only financing vehicle available to subsidize health services and draws in all segments of the population equitably for improved access to quality health services.

According to her, the insurance scheme is segmented into three groups. The first group is designed for the aged and vulnerable

people at no cost. The second group is for the artisans and with a token registration sum, while the soon-to-be-launched third category is for the civil servants and pensioners.

The Executive Secretary, while giving a breakdown of existing beneficiaries from Edu and Patigi, said the agency has captured at least 3,878 enrollees from the region, all of whom, she explained, have since been accessing medical care through different health facilities.

“Currently, the enrollees from Edu and Patigi are as follows: Comprehensive Health Centre (169); District Health Unit, Lafiagi (217); Maternity/Clinic Bacita (226); Maternity/ Dispensary, Tsaragi (219); Model Primary Healthcare Gbadagun (152); Model Primary Healthcare Kanka (173); General Hospital Lafiagi (793); General Hospital Patigi (893); Comprehensive Health Centre Rogun (92); Infant Welfare Clinic Patigi (311); Maternity and Dispensary Rifun (153); Model Primary Healthcare Kpada (208); and

PHC Edogi Kpansanako (272).

She urged other residents of Lafiagi, Patigi and their neighbouring communities who have not enrolled their families to do so, saying that it would earn them access to quality and cheap medical services.

Chief Medical Director (CMD), of General Hospital Lafiagi, Dr. Saliu Bolakale, said the size of people who enrolled for the programme has continued to increase, thereby lending credence to the health intervention of the administration.

He listed laboratory tests and treatment of malaria, diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as antenatal and postnatal care as parts of the services they render under the insurance programme.

Mallam Abdullahi Sambo and Mallam Ibrahim Haruna are among the enrollees who gave testimonies about the benefits they have been enjoying from the health initiative, commending the government for its people-focused projects.

Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola

Deputy CPS Government House Ilorin.

November 29, 2023.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend hosted the six public school students who won the presidential debate competition in Abuja, rewarding each of them with N1m cash gift and state scholarship for their undergraduate studies in any discipline.

The Governor called the students the pride of the government and people of Kwara State, commending them for their impressive outing and thanking their parents, teachers and leadership of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) for their roles in the feat.

Kwara recently won the 63rd edition of the presidential debate in Abuja for the second time in a row, asserting its leadership in the competition, which involves participants from the states of the federation.

Kwara had also won the last edition of the speaking contest in 2021 in Lagos, with the winners similarly accorded a state reception by the Governor, cash rewards, and university scholarship.

The victory in Lagos saw Kwara representing Nigeria at the International Debate Competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With their latest victory, they will now represent Nigeria at the World school debate championship in the Republic of Serbia in Europe.

The latest champions were led to Government House Ilorin by the Chairman state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, who also came home with an award of being the best SUBEB Chairman in Northern Nigeria.

“I congratulate you for doing exceedingly well. The state is proud of you, as you carry the flags as ambassadors of the state. You will now become ambassadors of Nigeria when you go to Serbia (Europe) to represent the country,” the Governor said on Friday at the reception for the children, their parents, and SUBEB management team in Ilorin.

The Debate Team, which comprised exclusively students from public schools, include Mashood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin East LG); Jatto Ramatallahi (Offa Grammar School, Offa); Jimoh Abayomi Emmanuel (Tanke Community Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South); Emmanuel Chioma (St. Anthony Junior Secondary School, Ilorin East); Dolapo Mariam (Offa Grammar School, Offa); and AbdulKareem Uswat ( Okelele Junior Secondary School Ilorin East).

Acknowledging that gaps still exist in the education sector, AbdulRazaq pledged to continue to invest in human capital development to totally restore the glory of Kwara as the best state in education in Northern Nigeria, if not the whole country.

“There is a lot to be done in our curriculum and in education. We know where we are coming from, but we are committed to beating our own record,” he said.

“Our aim is not just to top education in Northern Nigeria but in Nigeria as a whole. And we can achieve that. We just have to be deliberate in our quest for what we want to achieve. That is why you are a shining example of what we can achieve if we set our goal properly.”

The reception was attended by the Chairman House Committee on Education Hon. Baba Boriya; Chief of Staff to the Governor Prince AbdulKadir Mahe; Commissioner for Education Sa’adatu Modibbo kawu; Special Adviser on Education Dr. Adetola Salau Ariyike; former Senior Special Assistant for Special Duties Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah; and teachers and parents of the celebrities.

Kawu, for her part, said the success story was a product of the government’s investments in the education sector, which, she noted, is already bearing fruits, commending the Governor for his visionary leadership.

In his remarks introducing the children to the Governor, Prof. Adaramaja thanked AbdulRazaq for taking the basic education in the state with all seriousness and for leading by example, calling him the main architect of the victory.

“Your Excellency, I am presenting them to you. They are your kids. And just this week, we received a letter from the Presidential School Debate, informing us that these students are going to represent Nigeria at the World school debate championship in the Republic of Serbia in Europe, and that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid the annual subscription fee for these students to represent the country,” Adaramaja said.

Dr. Jatto, a parent who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the Governor for the awards and how his government is helping to restore confidence in the public school system in the state.

Dr. Jato said the government’s investments are clearly yielding results, adding that history will be kind to the Governor and his team for the efforts in the education sector.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

November 19, 2023