• Govt to publish application link this week

• to support security agencies with stipends

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the payment of N10,000 each to students of Kwara origin in public-owned tertiary institutions.

The Governor has also approved a stipend of N10,000 each for some categories of security agents defined as the first line of defence, which would be disbursed through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) Office.

The approval for students’ support, described as one-off in its scope, is a departure from the previous bursary award, which covered only final year students of tertiary schools.

The Governor had raised bursary award from the age-long N5,000 to N10,000 for final year students.

The special support will be coordinated by a government committee to be headed by Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB). He will be supported by officials from the Ministry of Tertiary Institution, bursary department, Ministry of Finance, and a representative each from the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Kwara State.

The committee will publish a web link through which all students eligible for state bursary would apply for the support within dates to be announced, filling required information and documents.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

August 1, 2023

Kwara State First Lady, Ambassador Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq has flagged off a house-to-house malaria drug administration to children between the ages of 3 – 59 months, in order to free the children from malaria consequences across the state.

Ambassador Abdulrazaq who is also the Chairperson of the Nigerian Governors Wives’ Forum kick-started the programme at Magaji-Olowo’s Compound, Centre Igboro, in Ilorin metropolis.

Administering the first dose of the drug on the children, Ambassador AbdulRazaq joined the team from the Ministry of Health to ‘start-up’ the 4-day intervention program, that will run through the next four consecutive months, across 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

Earlier in his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. AbdulRazaq Owolabi, while appreciating the commitment of the First Lady, advised the community to ensure that the waste bin provided in the community is being used adequately in collecting wastes, to prevent the spread of diseases and other breeding places for mosquitoes.

The host Magaji Olowo, Sheik Abu Sherif in company of other Magajis and individuals, expressed delight for kick-starting the 2023 edition of the programme in his community, pledging his support to ensure its success and other laudable programmes of Governor AbdulRazaq-led administration in the state.

Present at the event are the House Committee Chairman on Health and Environment for the 10th Assembly, Hon. AbdulRazaq Owolabi, Hon. Mariam Yusuf Aladi and Hon. Medinat AbdulRaheem, among others.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the State Government on Primary Health Care service delivery, ranking Kwara as the topmost performer in PHC Delivery, being one of the areas of the International Organization’s interventions in Kwara State.

The Chief Field Officer of UNICEF in Kaduna, Dr. Ahmed Baba gave this commendation during the week, at the UNICEF Mid-Year Review Meeting with Kwara State, held at G-Pinnacle Hotels and Suites, Pipeline Road, Ilorin the State Capital.

Mr. Baba said the State Government has proven to be committed to the plight of the vulnerable individuals and the downtrodden in the State by playing its roles in the bilateral relationship between the UNICEF and the State.

He urged the State Government to keep up its commitment to ensure better living conditions of the people, promising that UNICEF will continue to support the State in its drive to eradicate malnutrition, poverty and other menace facing the State, especially, children and other vulnerable groups.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Yaqub Umar Jaja who was represented by the State Director Planning, Alh. Alimi Surajudeen, reiterated that the present administration under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, will continue in its effort to eradicate malnutrition, poverty and other challenges facing the disadvantaged members of the State.

Dr. Jaja particularly have kudos to UNICEF for its immense contributions to the State’s health sector, acknowledging the fact that it has proven to be committed to the well-being of the children and vulnerable in the State.

He also appreciated UNICEF for the current intervention in the health sector through the training on Annual Operating Plan and the Development of the Plan and Procurement Zip-lock for Outbreak Response Campaign, adding that UNICEF intervention in the social sector include support for Community Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Access to Justice for children at the grassroots in five different communities in Ilorin-West Local Government Area of the State.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu said that the the Mid-Year Reviewy meeting is fundamental to holistically track the activities of the State in areas of UNICEF interventions, to identify challenges so as to chart a way forward.

She noted that Kwara State Government has been committed to ensuring continuous partnership with UNICEF as the counterpart-fund are paid as and when due, noting that the State’s indices in terms of performance have also greatly improved in Primary Health Care Delivery in addition to the support the State is receiving from UNICEF.

*Daibu Abubakar,*

*Press Secretary,*

MPED.

The Kwara State Government has again expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for her role in the fight against insecurity, insurgency and other related issues in the country.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq gave the commendation while receiving General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Ibadan Oyo of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro in his office.

Governor AbdulRazaq who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi acknowledged the sacrifices and dedication to service by the officers of the Nigerian Army and indeed all other security forces in the country.

He noted the attendant effects of insecurity to include economic stagnation, panicking, poverty and loss of life among other negative effects.

He expressed the readiness of the government of Kwara to join hands with security agencies to rid the state and the country at large of the threats to our peace and national security.

Earlier, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Ibadan Oyo of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro explained that he was in the state on a familiarization mission to 22 Armored Brigade, Sobi, as one of the formations and unit under his command.

He expressed delight at the robust working relationship between the Government of Kwara state and the Nigerian Army, adding that such cooperation would bring about more desirable results to the people.

He stated that the Nigerian Army is poised and ready to drive security and confront all forms of insecurity bedeviling the state.

Modupe Joel

Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor

July 25, 2023

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said the administration will deploy more resources into making people cope with the removal of subsidy.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday evening, he said the policy was the lesser evil open to the Federal Government, saying other options such as printing new currency on a large scale to fund fuel subsidy would crumble the economy and subject the people to greater harm.

“At the moment, we will concentrate more on funding welfare programmes in order to keep the economy going and helping the people to cope with the temporary discomfort. This means we’ll slow down on other things that do not specifically address this need,” the Governor told a crowd of APC leaders, stakeholders, and community leaders, including Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Rt. Hon. Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu; principal officers and members of the House; APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi; Ambassador Nuhu Mohammed; Senator Ahmed Mohammed; Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin; and Pa Oyin Zubair.

“We have rolled out several palliatives that cover different sectors, including medical workers, teachers, small and medium scale. Those who are not immediately covered will be taken on board very soon. We appeal for patience. We are working with the Federal Government to ease the temporary pains of the removal of fuel subsidy. Very soon, things will normalise, and we will be better for it,” the Governor said.

“We will also reach out to the most vulnerable members of the society. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised all states to go ahead and look at ways of mitigating the effects of the subsidy removal until the labour and Federal government reach an agreement on the new minimum wage. That’s why we rolled out new palliatives which include N10,000 transport allowance for workers. There will be food distribution, among several other interventions we announced yesterday.

“The federal government is also selling fertilisers and maize to state governments. The former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele had bought a lot of fertilizers and maize which the federal government will now sell to the state governments and the states will pass it on to the public in ways to be determined.

“The challenges of mitigating the effects of fuel subsidy removal is an ongoing exercise which we will continue to look at. Not everybody will be captured from day one because of the cost of implementing the programmes. For example, nurses alone will receive about N60m a month under the new arrangement. If you look at it over a year, it is over N700m. So, when you look at the numbers, we are heading to a situation where all our statutory allocations and IGR are going into paying salaries. But for now, that is what we need to do to make sure people feed well and they are okay and then continue other businesses. It is important that we be our brothers’ keepers. Our efforts will not be confined to civil servants’ welfare alone. So, through KWASSIP, we will reach out to other segments of the society and also through food distribution like we did during COVID-19.”

State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi, who congratulated the Governor and the party on the last electoral victory, expressed confidence that Kwarans stand the chance to enjoy more dividends in the second term of the administration.

He charged members to remain united and continue to make concerted effort to see that the party grows at the grassroot level.

His words: “I want to start by congratulating the Governor on the re-election, his emergence as NGF Chairman and the conferment on him the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON). I also congratulate those of us who worked assiduously and ensured victory in the last election.

“It is unity that is foremost required at this juncture. And I want to assure each and every one of us that the second term of the Governor will be better than the former, and I request that we cooperate with him, knowing fully well that he has some other assignments to perform at the national level. I believe that this era will bring more progress to Kwara State.”

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

July 25, 2023

• Okays 100% CONMESS for doctors, allowances for nurses

• Workers get monthly cash support, cash backing for promotions, staggered working days

• Eight years after, AbdulRazaq restores steps for SUBEB workers

• Govt to distribute food palliatives; extends free transport for students

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved a slew of multibillion naira palliatives to neutralise the effects of recent removal of fuel subsidy, cutting across different sectors and demographies of the state.

On top of the palliatives is a cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker in the state, which will begin this month (July) and last until a new minimum wage is introduced to enable workers cope with the economic shocks created by the subsidy removal, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye told a news briefing on Monday morning.

In deference to the new advisory of the National Economic Council for states to design their own independent responses to the development, the Governor has directed the leadership of the civil service to continue a staggered work schedule — not exceeding three days a week — to reduce transportation expenses for workers, he said.

Kwara had earlier introduced a three-day work schedule for its civil servants, but suspended it in deference to an earlier advisory of the NEC for states to await a more holistic response to the development.

The staggered work plan will not cover ‘essential workers’, the governor’s spokesman clarified.

“The Governor has similarly approved the payment, from this month, July, of new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under the government’s payroll. He also approved a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government. The whole essence is to check attrition rate in the health sector, and attract and retain medics and specialists to provide improved, qualitative healthcare services for the people of the state,” he added.

“The Governor has also endorsed immediate cash-backing of 2019 and 2020 promotion for Teaching Service Commission workers. The administration had earlier cash-backed arrears of promotion for TESCOM for years 2015-2018.

“In the same vein, he has approved cash-backing for 2021 promotion exercise of teaching and non-teaching staff of SUBEB and restoration of steps to all of them. This is a policy response to the yearnings of SUBEB workers since 2016 when SUBEB workers no longer had steps.

“The Governor also approved the extension of free bus rides for students of tertiary institutions in the state, while modalities for occasional distribution of food to poor and most vulnerable households are to be activated in the next few days.

“This shall be nonpartisan, and would be coordinated by a government team to be supported by respected stakeholders who would get inputs from traditional rulers, religious bodies, market leaders, trade unionists, and community based organisations to generate the lists of beneficiaries and disburse accordingly.

“The whole idea of these interventions, which gulp billions of naira of public funds, is to show empathy and deploy as much resources as the state can afford to support the people at this special time.

“The Governor has also approved for the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) to activate a N500m worth of conditional support for petty traders and MSMEs in the state.

“The state government will receive fertilisers and grains from the Federal Government and pay for same. It is not free. Modalities for the handling of these will be made available later. This is to boost farming outputs and food security in the state.

“The government, meanwhile, will be setting up a committee to interface with marketers on the need to curb extortionist tendencies as seen in arbitrary fixing of prices of food stuffs. This practice imposes hardship on everyone. The government will be willing to collaborate with the patriotic market leaders on how to tackle this challenge.

“Finally, the Governor identifies with the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his strong commitments to sustainable economic reforms and well-being of the Nigerian people, believing that the current discomforts are just like the pains that precede the joyful birth of a child.”

Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
July 24, 2023

Law-making is the primary and most important function of the legislator. In accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the legislature makes new laws and may repeal outdated legal provisions. It is through laws that policies of government are laid down for implementation.

Going by the above assertion, Rep Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin has indeed started the journey of 10th Assembly with the right foot by reintroducing two important bills that have bearing in the lives of his constituents.

During the House of Representatives Plenary on 20th July, 2023. Rep Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, Member Representing Ekiti Isin Irepodun Oke Ero Federal Constituency of kwara reintroduced two bills. The bills are; The Federal College of Education, Omu-Aran Kwara State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 185), and the Food Processing and Preservation Center, Osi Ekiti, Kwara State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 186). One of the bills have previously progressed through the 9th Assembly and was awaiting Presidential assent before the end of the former President Muhammadu Buhari Tenure while the other was going for a Public hearing.

These two bills sponsored by Hon. Tunji Ajulo are ver important bills which will surely be impactful at this critical time of our country. The Food Processing and Preservation Center (Establishment) Bill will surely improve food security, While the Federal College of Education, Omu-Aran Kwara State (Establishment) Bill will create job and boast the economy activities of the host community and its environs.

Food processing is any deliberate change in a food that occurs before it is available. Typically inedible raw materials are processed into more useful, shelf-stable and palatable foods or potable beverages for human consumption.

Since prehistoric times, food processing has been a key aspect of the food production chain that links agricultural production with the provision of food to people in the form and at the time it is required

Just few weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu declared an immediate State of Emergency on food insecurity to tackle the increase in food prices.The Food Processing and Preservation Center bill being sponsor by Rep. Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin is a timely one, Food security is one of the major challenges facing Nigeria, relies on the adequate supply of safe, affordable and nutritious fresh and processed foods to all people. The challenge of supplying healthy diets to Nigerians will in part be met through increase in food production. However, reducing food losses throughout the supply chain from production to consumption and sustainable enhancements in preservation, nutrient content, safety and shelf life of foods, enabled by food processing will also be essential.

The House of Representatives should accelerate and speedily pass the bill for the onward presidential assent as it’ll be beneficial not for Ekiti Irepodun Isin Oke-Ero Federal Constituency alone but the country at large.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is building a new economy around his understanding of the geography and demography of Kwara State, especially on how to properly engage young people, put money in things that interest them and could help their talents, and refocus the economy to suit the situation of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu Ajakaye said this in Ilorin on Thursday at the 37th Media Parliament of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.

He also said the Governor is investing heavily in human capital development and critical sectors to make the state economically viable, self-sufficient, reduce poverty and boost quality of life.

“In all of these, there is a reality we must all live with: not only is our demography changing at a fast rate in favour of young people, the government has never been designed to provide jobs for everyone. Many young people are now looking beyond the traditional 9-5 job cycle. Except as a last resort, and for want of better opportunities, many now dream to be their own bosses or to find their feet in the private sector. While many want to invest in their own businesses, a horde of them are leaning towards the opportunities offered by new technology, arts and entertainment,” he said.

Ajakaye, who spoke on the topic “Unleashing Kwara Economic Potentials: AbdulRazaq’s Magic Wand for the Next Four Years”, explained that the government has invested in road infrastructure to lessen travel time, ease movement of goods, people, and services, improve productivity, and boost quality of life.

“The Governor has prioritized spendings on infrastructural renewal and expansion within the metropolis and other areas, as support for small and medium scale enterprises, creative industries, entertainment, tourism and conferencing, arts and culture, innovation and technology, trade, agro processing, and human capital development. This will create direct jobs, reduce poverty, and lessen crime rates.”

According to him, investments in road and other social infrastructures and services may not be measured by what economists call return on investments, which are quantifiable in naira and kobo, but the benefits of having them and the consequences of not having them on businesses and human existence.

“For instance, only residents and travelers along Osi-Obbo Aiyegunle, Ilesha Baruba to Gwanara, Yebumot-Adeta, and Adeta Roundabout to Pakata Roundabout, to mention a few, can tell the life-changing impacts of these projects on businesses, transporters and the people of the area. There are more than three dozens of such major roads either completed or ongoing in different parts of the state,” Ajakaye said.

The CPS said the administration’s success between 2019 and 2023 in stabilizing things across many sectors like education, health sector, rural access to basic amenities, and civil service, accounts for it gaining public trust, and assists in steadily unfolding its economic direction for the state.

He said the ready-to-take off garment factory will, for a start, be sewing ready-made clothes on an industrial scale with corresponding benefits to the state, adding it will create at least 2,000 direct jobs along its different value chains.

He also said the administration has chosen to complete Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses of Kwara State University, because the campuses will cause rapid socioeconomic development in Kwara South and Kwara North, adding that the phase 1 of the project is now more than 80% completed.

“Visual Arts Centre is not a facility without a ready-made market. Kwara has bred some of the finest talents in the creative industry, and it is a no-brainer that the government will have beneficial partnerships with the movers and shakers of the industry.

“A corollary to that is the Sugar Factory Film Studio, which is another big movie production facility sited in the old Tate and Lyle building, hence the name sugar factory film studio. These facilities — visual arts centre and the sugar factory film studio — will help to promote related courses offered at the Kwara State University and other institutions, thereby creating a unique link between the gown and the market. The sugar film factory is 85% completed.

are not just an extension of the school.

“This administration has chosen to complete the Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses of Kwara State University (KWASU) because these campuses will cause rapid socioeconomic development in Kwara South and Kwara North. From less than 35% in 2019, the Phase 1 of Osi campus is now more than 80% completed. Once these schools welcome students and lecturers, it will be one of the best strategies to drive economic and physical developments to the two axes. Jobs will be created, and properties will become more viable. Wherever a school exists, a whole gamut of ancillary economic activities also spring up. Private individuals will build hostels, people will sell things for the well-being of the new population, and a lot of service providers will migrate to the area. In all of these, the people benefit,” he said.

He added: “The intention of the Governor, a great lover of nature, is to refocus how we live and work for a sustainable future. This is what the Kwara State Master Plan seeks to achieve. Under the first phase, which is the 20-year Ilorin City Master Plan, at least three satellite towns are to emerge from Ilorin, each carefully designed to allow for sustainable living and rapid development. These cities are to respect the limits already imposed by climate change, thereby preventing avoidable loss of lives and properties.

“It may also interest you that the much-talked about Industrial Park (Phase 1) is now being constructed on the Ilorin-Eiyenkorin- Ogbomoso Highway. At 48% work level for its preliminary works, it spans over 20 hectares of land, with huge economic potential. It will be a standalone community on its own, comprising its own schools, hospitals, malls, police station, warehouses, shops, and other facilities. This in itself will generate thousands of jobs for our people, and help to spread economic prosperity. Another industrial park is planned for Kwara South, and talks are still ongoing in that regard.

“In Kaiama, the administration is constructing a sheanut processing factory which harnesses the potentials of the local community in sheanut. It is known in local Batonu language as Nogbe Kure, roughly meaning ‘shea by she’. This factory will employ hundreds of workers, mostly from the local community, and will overtime spur improved economic activities. Barring any unforeseen delays, the sheanut processing factory will be delivered in the last quarter of this year.”

He equally said over 200,000 people of the state have benefitted from the state Social Investment programme (KWASSIP) schemes that he noted reduces the propensity for fraud, “as every applicant and beneficiary has a unique financial identity.”

“In a report presented to the Governor on March 14, 2022, a research team of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna State, said KWASSIP could lift up to 500,000 low-income people out of extreme poverty in the next five years.”

Ajakaye urged the people of Kwara State to continue their support for the Governor, and thanked media personnel for their continued trust in government and how they are professional in the discharge of their duties.

“To the media, I say to you that we truly cherish your fairness. I bid you to walk with us in good faith, as you always do, while Kwara journeys to a new level of economic prosperity anchored on productive engagements of its people and every stakeholder, including the organized private sector,” he concluded.

The event was well attended by some media executives and dozens of NUJ members across the state council and several chapels of the union, including the Chairman Ahmed Abdullateef; state Chairman National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ) Kwara State branch, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi; former NUJ Chairman Kwara State Biodun Abdulkareem; Chairperson for NAWOJ, Mrs Bola Ipinlaye; Elder Wole Adedeji; Alhaji Abdullahi Olesin; among others.

Kwara NUJ Chairman, Ahmed Abdullateef, said while many states go cap in hand to obtain their monthly allocations from the federation, Kwara state can boast with what it has to better the lots of the citizenry.

“If the state government could muster the courage and the willpower to grow the state economy through agriculture, tech, arts, beyond the routine lip service, Kwara will become a pace-setter in terms of employment for an army of unemployed youth,” he said.

He called on the state government to work assiduously for Kwara to be listed among the fastest growing economically states in the federation.

Chairman, National League of Veteran Journalists (NALVEJ) Kwara State branch, Alhaji Tunde Akanbi, in his remarks, said an average Nigerian is badly affected by the fuel hike, and appealed to President Tinubu to quickly come up with programmes to cushion the impacts.

He thanked Ajakaye for honoring the invitation, and for how he always identifies with journalists in the state.

Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola

Deputy Chief Press Secretary

Government House

20 July, 2023.

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has approved the observance of every Muharram 1 as a work-free day in the state, a policy pronouncement that fulfils longstanding yearnings of the Muslim community in the state.

“The Governor has thoroughly considered the longstanding requests from various quarters of the state. He has therefore approved that the day be observed henceforth (annually) as work-free in Kwara State, as is obtainable in many other states of the country. Consequently, Wednesday July 19, 2023, which is equivalent to the first day of Islamic lunar calendar (Muharram 1445), shall be observed as a public holiday in the state,” according to a Government House statement on Tuesday.

“History says the first of Muharram heralded the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace of God be upon him, from his birthplace Mecca in search of a peaceful and conducive atmosphere to practice Islam. This brings to mind the need for everyone to imbibe the lessons of patience, perseverance, tolerance, moderation, and compassion.

“The Governor congratulates the Muslim community on the occasion of another lunar calendar, Hijrah 1445, and urges everyone to reflect on the purport of the day in the hope that we are guided by its lessons and significance in our day-to-day living and interactions with others. He calls for religious tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for everyone, irrespective of their beliefs.”

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

July 18, 2023

The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has reiterated his commitment to the attainment of a ‘drug free state’ through investment in various multi-pronged interventions and social investment programmes already embarked upon by his administration in the past four years.

The Governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, reiterated this at the grand finale of year 2023 edition of the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, held today at the State’s Banquet hall, in Ilorin metropolis.

Mallam AbdulRazaq noted that his administration has deployed various strategies ‘to create an enabling environment that will encourage the growth and evolution of every one in the state as productive.

Mallam AbdulRahman further listed the people-oriented investments and interventions aimed at providing an enabling environment, engaging the youths gainfully and deterring them from non-purposeful endeavours to include the ‘Kwara State Innovation Hub, Visual Arts Centre, Garment Manufacturing factory, Ivitech and Sugar film factory, kwaprenuer as well as youth/students related interventions and support programmes’.

Earlier, the First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Dr. (Mrs.) Olufolake AbdulRazaq, represented by Director of Public Health, in the State Ministry, Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode charged rehabilitated youths who have just undergone skill acquisition training and wereventually empowered by the Nigeria Governors’ wives forum to stay away completely from drugs, in order to ensure brighter futre.

She equally urged parents to support each other in the upbringing of their children to avert exposing them to illicit drug users in the society.

In her address, the Chairperson of Kwara State Drug Control Committee, Pharmacist Barakat Olanrewaju, reaffired that the theme of this year’s campaign is ‘People First, Stop Stigma, and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention’ and it is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of treating people who are addicted with respect and empathy.

According to her, the committee through the support of Kwara State Government has over the years sensitized 65 secondary schools, 6 tertiary institution and 15 Communities on dangers inherent in the abuse of drugs, instead stakeholders and NGOs were encouraged to actively engage in Community activities and collaboration with the NDLEA amongst others to ensure a drug free society.

The acting State Commandant of NDLEA, Deputy Commander Narcotics, Adebimpe Oduwole, stated that the agency is actively pursuing the war against drug abuse by organising lectures, paying advocacy visits and sensitization activities at the grassroots, warning the public against stigmatization of hard drug users but encouraged government, private sectors and well meaning individuals to rise against drug abuse in the state.

Today’s event was the grand finale of the week long activities in commemoration of this year’s United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, as the Kwara State Drug Control Committee had earlier embarked on public awareness programmes, sensitization at market places, motor parks, secondary and tertiary institution, road walk, essay/debate and music competitions among secondary schools students in the course of the week.

Highlights of the grand finale include special musical presentation by secondary students, drama sketch by NYSC ‘Drug free Club’ and presentation of prizes and awards to outstanding schools in both essay and music categories.