Kwara State has recorded a historic milestone by emerging as the overall winner of the 2025 President’s Senior School Debate Competition, marking the first time the state has clinched the coveted national title.

The 26th edition of the debate, held from June 24 to 27, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, brought together top-performing schools from across the country, with Kwara’s team outperforming their counterparts in multiple rounds, including Rivers State, which was eliminated in the final stage of the competition.

Receiving the victorious team in his office on Friday, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe attributed the landmark achievement to the current administration’s commitment to education reforms and improved teacher welfare.

“The current administration, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON), has prioritised the total transformation of public education in Kwara. This victory is a clear sign that those efforts are yielding positive results,” Olohungbebe said.

The commissioner, who described the win as a collective success, extended gratitude to the teachers, school principals, coaches, the management team of the ministry, and other stakeholders who contributed to the team’s preparation and performance.

“This is a victory not just for the students, but for everyone who has played a role in the growth of education in our state. We deeply appreciate the dedication and resilience of our teachers. Their hard work made this achievement possible,” he noted.

Olohungbebe also encouraged the students to remain focused and continue striving for excellence, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the state.

The winning team, led by a teacher, Babatunde Amina Idowu, comprises Moshood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin), AbdulAzeez Aishat (Nawarudeen Secondary School, Offa),

AbdulAzeez Mutasir (St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin), and Usman Maryam Enyo (Ilorin Grammar School, Ilorin).

•House to debate, ratify council approval

Following their numerous financial crises, liabilities, and non-profitability since 2012, Kwara State Executive Council on Tuesday resolved to revert all public properties in Harmony Holdings and its wobbling subsidiaries back to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated for better management and reduced liabilities.

At a meeting in Ilorin presided over by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the council received briefings from Commissioner for Finance Dr. Hauwa Nuru on the status of the companies and the best way to stop their continuous losses, in spite of several bailouts and loans that did not yield anything in the public interest.

The Commissioner recalled that huge public funds had been sunk into Harmony Holdings and its subsidiaries like Harmony Transport Services, Harmony Insurance Brokers, and Harmony Investment and Property Development Company, among others, with no penny as returns on investment to the state since 2012.

Nuru said the only profitable one is the Harmony Securities Limited, while Harmony Transport, Harmony Insurance Brokers, Harmony Investment and Property Development Company have remained unprofitable.

“The state government has come to the aid of some of these companies to stay afloat many times through bailouts, grants, and loans to meet their obligations. Despite all the financial assistance, they are still struggling to generate enough revenue to meet their obligations,” she said.

“The application of the quick ratio on these companies indicates a ratio below the industry ratio of 1:1 based on audited financial statements of 2022 and 2023, which suggests that the concerned companies are not in a strong financial position to meet their short-term obligations.”

Nuru requested the council to approve the dissolution of the firms and reversion of public properties in their care to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated as an investment vehicle to manage the government’s interests, estates, and rights in a sustainable way that follows due process.

“This option is desirable because of its cost effectiveness, elimination of growing liabilities,” she said.

Council members approved the proposal, which will then be sent to the House of Assembly for consideration and ratification.

The council was also briefed about the outstanding obligations and liabilities of the firms as part of the due process for the reforms.

Bolanle Olukoju

Commissioner for Communications

24 June 2025

Kwara State Government on Friday received 1000 life jackets as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to promote safe water travels across riverine communities in Nigeria.

The items are to be distributed across riverine communities in Patigi, Edu, Baruten, Kaiama, and Moro local governments.

Presenting the items in Ilorin, the state capital, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola said a balance of 2,500 life jackets will be delivered soon.

Oyetola, who was represented by the Director, Maritime Services, Dr (Mrs) Mercy Ilori, said the initiative is a strategic step to make water transport safer and more reliable for all users.

He said boat mishaps remain a recurring and avoidable tragedy in many parts of the country, caused by poor safety practices, especially the failure to wear life jackets.

He urged all boat and ferry operators to make safety a priority, adding that wearing a life jacket is a responsibility.

“The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is taking practical steps to prevent such losses and ensure that every journey by water is a safe one by using the three core pillars: strict enforcement of the Inland Waterways Transportation Regulations 2023, sustained public education and sensitisation on safety, and provision of life-saving gear, particularly life jackets to waterway users across the country,” the Minister said.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Mamman Saba Jibril, who represented the Governor, implored the benefiting communities and boat operators to ensure that passengers use the jackets regularly.

“We should not keep the jacket at home; we must use it because if we use it, the Ministry will be happy with Kwara. Let me re-emphasize that we should not keep it at home but use it for our safety,” he said.

Prof Jibril commended the President for providing the life jackets and the Ministry for putting in its best to forestall the loss of lives and properties to boat mishaps.

Commissioner of Transportation Hon Aliyu Kora Sabi, for his part, said the event underscores the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq to protecting the lives of the citizens.

“As we all know, life jackets are not just pieces of equipment; they are life-saving devices that can make the difference between life and death,” he said.

The event was also attended by the Commissioner for Communications Hon Bola Olukoju; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Hon Ibrahim Orire; Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Kwara State, Alhaji Salau Kabiru Abdullahi; representatives of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA); Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) for affected local governments; and Chairman, Boat Owners Association, Abdullahi Yakub.

Alabere Ahmed

Press Secretary

Ministry of Transportation, Ilorin

June 20, 2025.

The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is drawing public attention to a flood risk warning issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre in Abuja, based on projections of heavy rainfall in the coming days across several parts of the country.

▪︎Initiative will boost grain production for human, animal feeds: Commissioner

Kwara State Government has again commenced the distribution of farm inputs for farmers in Apata Alaje, Banni Community in Kaiama local government as part of measures to drive food sufficiency and promote livestock development.

The agricultural initiative is being carried out by the state Ministry of Livestock Development in partnership with Arzikin Noma and an international partner, IDH.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony on Monday, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the project is focusing on cultivating sorghum and soyabean to boost grain production for animal feed, adding this will also check the perennial conflicts between farmers and herders in the state.

She commended the development partners for coming on board, and described the partnership as timely and purposeful.

“The current partnership with Arzikin /Idh/Olam is very timely because it is focused on cultivation of grains for human and animal, but majorly for animal feed production,” she said.

“As we are all aware, food is the main reason for clashes between farmers and herders and if we can grow more grains that will be used for animal feed to achieve the modernisation and commercialization of Livestock farming, then we are on our way to ending farmers/herders clashes in Nigeria.

“This partnership will also help us to achieve a broader agenda of this administration- which is creation of industries and value addition centres, to ensure that goods produced in Kwara are processed or improved upon and do not leave the state as unprocessed goods.”

She said the items for distribution will cover 18000 bags of fertilizer, 6000 liters each of 3 different chemicals, 75MT of sorghum seed, and 100MT of soya seed.

At the event were the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon Aliyu Kora Sabi; Special Adviser to the Governor on Strategy, Alhaji Atiku Abdulsalam; Special Assistant on Farmers Intervention, Suleiman Abdullahi Belle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock Development, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammed; representative of the Director of Security Service (DSS), Mr Usman Danladi; MD/CEO Arzikin Noma Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeoluwa; Senior Programme Manager for IDH, Dr Daniel Abah; Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Sheu Muazu Omar, who was represented by the Waziri Kaiama, Alhaji Adamu Gene; other chieftains of the Emirate; and farmers.

Sabi, for his part, said the choice of the Apata Alaje community for the project is a welcome development, expressing hope that this will promote peace between the farmers and herders in that locality.

He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to achieve the desired results.

Atiku, in his remarks, said the flag off of distribution of inputs serves as a symbol of progress and innovation on the agricultural renaissance of the state, commending the Governor’s vision and investment in the agric and livestock development.

CEO Arzikin Noma Nigeria Limited, Adeoluwa, said the project was aimed at ensuring that farmers have access to agro-chemical, quality seedlings, training and other necessary support.

He said the farmers will not have problems with sales, promising that off-takers like Olam are on ground to buy from them after the harvest.

Speaking on behalf of IDH, Dr Abah,

said the programme was to transform the agricultural value chain so that smallholder farmers can benefit and do well in creating more jobs.

He said IDH is a foundation that focuses on making agricultural supply chains more sustainable, assuring that the current partnership will be sustainable and beneficial to all parties involved.

Mrs Asmau Muhammad and Iliasu Saka among other beneficiaries, who spoke at the event, appreciated the government for the gesture and promised to make judicious use of the items.

Daibu Abubakar

Press Secretary,

Ministry of Livestock Development

June 18, 2025.

The aura, steeze and strategies that have characterised the campaigns of the chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming September 21 local government elections have raised a question about the unpreparedness of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). While some observers have linked the unpreparedness to the party’s looming defeat in the polls, others have said the disunity in the party is the main cause.

It was in July that PDP released a malnourished and jejune press statement, noting its readiness for the local government elections. It also boasted about its chairmanship and councilorship candidates — claiming that they were candidates to beat. However, as of the time of writing this piece, there are no indications that the PDP is prepared. From Kwara Central to North and to South, the PDP’s unpreparedness is deafening, though not a surprise.

The observers who linked the PDP’s unpreparedness to looming loss and internal wrangling are absolutely right. The PDP’s self-aggrandisement, embezzlement, and maladministration of yesterday are why it lost the public trust and steadily haemorrhaging today with no help in sight. The outcome of the 2019 and 2023 general elections are indications that Kwarans are done with the leader of PDP, Pastor Omo Oloogbe, and his deluded bootlickers.

Those who know the truth in the party like the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi have come out to say PDP is a goner in Kwara State. However, despite the insults hurled at him by the uncouth individuals in the party whenever he discusses the state of the PDP on big platforms, Mallam Abdullahi has continued to say it as it is: “I think the party over time lost its steam.”

Compounding the internal crisis in the party are Bukola Saraki’s hubris, highhandedness, deception and fraudulent leadership. These nauseating attributes of the former Senate President haven’t only deepened the internal wrangling in the PDP but have also cost the party some of its bigwigs including Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola, Hon. Wahab Issa, Prof. Abubakar Sulyman popularly known as ‘Amana’, Prince Haliru Mahmud Dantsoho and many others who defected to the ruling party.

Therefore, whether the PDP chairmanship and councilorship candidates prepare for the September 21 local government polls or not, Kwarans have already made up their minds on them and it is “PDP? Never again!”. And now that there are no signs that they are preparing, it will even be worse. We can now expect the APC candidates to clear all the polling booths across the state. A landslide victory!

One of my friends is a fan of a loudmouth and arrogant PDP chairmanship candidate in the state. In July, he said he would vote for him on September 21. When I asked him why, he couldn’t give a reasonable reason other than the fact that he just likes him. Last week, he called to tell me how his posters have been scarce and how his archrival, the APC candidate, who is a banker with decent lifestyle has been raking in support. I smiled. I hope he’ll come across this piece and find out why his favourite isn’t the people’s fave and particularly why his posters have scantily dotted the landscape of the local government.

Mustapha a public affairs analyst, writes from Ilorin

Movers and shakers of the Nigerian movie industry are expected in Ilorin in November as Kwara State hosts the 16th edition of the Best of Nollywood awards in November.

Receiving the hosting rights of the award on Wednesday in Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq said the event will hold at the iconic Sugar Factory Film Studio which he said had been built to take the Nigerian creative industry to the next level through cutting-edge last mile post production capabilities.

“We are honoured to be given the hosting rights for this year’s event (Best of Nollywood Award). As you can see, Kwara is ready to dominate the film industry. The intention for this Sugar Factory Film Studio is to take film production in Nigeria to another level” he said.

“What we have seen in Africa and globally is that what we are producing (in Nigeria) are mostly videos. We want to move to another level of cinematography so that we can win global awards in film production. This is a reason for this facility.”

The brief ceremony was attended by top government officials and some Nollywood stars from within and outside the state.

Attendees included the Chief of Staff to the Governor Alhaji AbdulKadir Mahe; Commissioner for Communication Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun; Commissioner for Finance Dr Hauwa Nuru; Commissioner for Works Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo; Managing Director, Sugar Factory Film Studio Olugbenga Titiloye; Chairman Advisory Board for the BON Mr. Seun Oloketuyi; and President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) Alhaji Abdulmumeen Abdulmalik.

Others are General Manager, Sugar Factory Film Studio Mrs Grace Babasola; General Managers for Radio Kwara Kayode Aremu; General Manager Herald Newspaper Yomi Adeboye; Executive Producer, BON Awards, Prince Feranmi Olaoye; and Nollywood actors Yemi Blaq and Feyi Hassan.

AbdulRazaq said hosting the BON Award will further market the Sugar Factory Film Studio to the movie industry, whose legends are coming for the event later this year.

“This is stage one of this facility. We intend to go to stage two and three, but we want stage one to be put in use. So, marketing this studio to the film industry is part of hosting this event and we will be glad to welcome at least 500 of the top film producers and active members of the film industry that day,” the Governor said.

“Kwara state is the place to be. We know that this place will definitely be a catalyst for future production in the film industry. I welcome you to Kwara and to the future in the movie industry in Nigeria.”

The Governor said the state is intentional about building a strong service and hospitality economy in phases to draw in quality human traffic. He said facilities like the Film Factory, visual arts centre, international conference centre, and the Kwara Hotel are a part of the plan.

Titiloye, for his part, commended the Governor for the huge investment in the facility and others, which he said would generate employment and revenue for the strategy.

He said Kwara was picked to organise the next event because of its peaceful atmosphere and the exceptional investments of the administration in the creative industry.

He said the Best of Nollywood Awards has always been a big event, and that close to 500 top film producers will attend the next edition in Kwara.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

August 28, 2024

• _IHS Towers partners Kwara_

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday said the under-construction Ilorin Innovation Hub, one of the legacy projects of the administration, will drive increased technological growth in Africa and provide opportunities for millions of young people.

The Governor said the project has hit 95 per cent completion, saying the delay was to ensure adherence to specifications and standards.

The Governor spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, when he visited the project site to ascertain the level of work done so far.

He was accompanied on the visit by the Managing Director, Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole.

“Work has reached an advanced stage. I can tell you that once this place is commissioned, it will be (one of) the best in Africa, in terms of building and contents. It will drive growth in the tech space,” he told reporters.

“You can have a beautiful building, but if you don’t have quality content, you are going nowhere. We have IHS as a partner already. IHS was in Kwara, and by partnering with us, this building is sustainable in terms of operation.

“The facility would also be powered through solar energy to make power sustainable too. So we are on the right path.”

AbdulRazaq expressed satisfaction at the level of work done and said the slow pace of work on the project was to also ensure that the hub is competitive in Africa in terms of standards.

“It is taking time, but it is good to get it right; it is also good to have the right partner that will make the place happen,” he said.

“We are in the last mile; everything is almost ready. It is about 95 per cent complete.”

Kolawole, for his part, said: “This project will definitely transform the economy of the state because it will bring the globally competitive skills, and the people of Kwara will be merging with the global market.”

The Governor also inspected the Kwara Hotels in Ilorin and the access gate of the Government House, both of which are under massive remodelling and reconstruction.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

August 27, 2024

•Emphasizes Significance of Educating Girl Child

As a new academic session draws closer, the Kwara State government has commenced a girl child education awareness campaign across the state, underscoring the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration’s commitment to improving girl children’s access to quality education.

Led by Hon. Joana Nnazua Kolo, the Adviser to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Girl Child Education, the awareness campaign kicked off on August 16, 2024, in Kwara North with parents, children, teachers, traditional rulers, government officials in attendance.

Addressing the parents and girl children present, Hon. Kolo emphasized the significance of educating the girl child, noting that education could usher in better career opportunities and improved social status for the girl child. She counselled that the girl child not be subjugated to only domestic roles and early marriage.

Making herself a reference point, Hon. Kolo recounted how education has opened the doors of opportunities for her. At 26, Governor AbdulRazaq appointed her as a Commissioner, making history as the youngest commissioner in the history of Kwara State and Nigeria by extension. Currently, she is an Adviser to the Governor on Girl Child Education.

When asked about their ambitions in life, it was gratifying to hear the girls telling the Honourable that they wanted to become teachers, doctors, and lawyers, among other respected professions. Hon. Kolo urged the parents to prioritize their daughters’ education so that they could achieve their various goals.

The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi echoed the need for girl child education. The people of the community expressed gratitude to Hon Joana Nnazua Kolo and His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for bringing the impactful program to their community while vowing that they would prioritize educating their girls.

The Girl Child Education campaign awareness is collaboratively carried out by the State government, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the state. Hon. Kolo who is the leader of the campaign and her team will tour the three senatorial districts before the curtain of the educative and impactful program drops.

In 2022, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimated the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria to be 7.6 million. Since Governor AbdulRazaq assumed office in 2019, he has ensured the girls in Kwara receive quality education through KwaraLEARN, payment of counterpart funds and provision of various educational aids.

Governor AbdulRazaq and Women Appointment/Empowerment

Since the return of democracy in 1999, no governor in Kwara State has empowered and appointed women to strategic positions in his government like Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. In his first tenure, he appointed 56% of women in his cabinet. In 2023, he repeated this feat by appointing 50% women, underscoring his commitment to improving the social status of the women in Kwara State.

Kwara State Government on Thursday said it is committed to improving the well-being of its workforce and creating an atmosphere for them to live a decent life after retirement.

Declaring its support for the realization of the Seventeen World Sustainable Development Goals, the government said part of these goals centre around ensuring decent work for people and growing the economy.

“The era where Kwara civil servants retire and have nothing to do has passed. What the administration is trying to focus on is to make sure that after you retire you have something to fall back onto,” Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi told reporters in Ilorin during the maiden Kwara SDGs Convention (1st Kw-SDGs).

Alabi urged participants to see the convention as an opportunity to make necessary inquiries and network towards building a solid foundation for a better tomorrow.

Organized by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs, Hon. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, the Convention featured lectures and panel discussion.

It was attended by some government officials, Permanent Secretaries,

and other top civil servants on Grade Level 15 to 17, including Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru; and Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology Hon. Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun.

Among the Speakers were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation Ishola Kayode; founder, Tamirah Entrepreneurship Center (TEC), Rukayat Yahaya; a serial entrepreneur with focus on Water, Education and Agriculture, Gegele Yahya Olushola; Managing Director, CNN Limited, Nelson Daramola; and an associate Professor of Enterprise Creation, Incubation and Development (ECID) at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Dr Rahman Oladimeji Mustapha.

“The state government is in support of the SDGs which is a blueprint for the global future. We are creating an atmosphere where an average retiree can say ‘yes it paid me when I was working with the government and I have something meaningful to be doing afterwards’,” the Deputy Governor said.

He was represented by the Commissioner for Communication Bola Olukoju.

SSA to the Governor on SDGs and convener of 1st Kwara SDGs Convention, Nnafatima, said they organized the programme to equip participants with relevant skills and strategies needed to harness opportunities and thrive in agriculture, entrepreneurship and ICT.

“Our goal is to explore vital topics that will not only help us navigate the present but also ensure a prosperous and secure future for everyone, especially those approaching retirement in the Civil Service,” she said.

“We aim to equip participants with the knowledge and strategies needed to harness opportunities in agriculture, information and communication technology, entrepreneurship, and other related fields of endeavor, so you can thrive both professionally and personally which is in line with SDG Goal 8, 9, 11 and 12.”

She said they conducted surveys and realized that many civil servants usually develop phobia when going for retirement, adding that they need enlightenment on how to cope after leaving the Service.

“We are focusing on civil servants because after conducting surveys we realized some sorts of retirement syndrome that come up when civil servants are about to retire,” she said.

“From the survey we are able to find out that they need an enlightenment programme like this so that they don’t have a phobia and they can move on even after retirement. Let it be an incubation period for them to carry on smoothly.”

She said the training will be a continuous exercise, adding that the plan includes introducing how the trainees can access loans, international grants and other skills for them to grow.

Ishola, in his lecture, spoke on some of the opportunities in digital innovation, including how it enables the government and participants to diversify the economy.

He said the digital world offers a lot of opportunities that the retirees can leverage to network their businesses and meet their economic needs.

“For us to be able to bring life into Sustainable Development Goals in our state and in our country, we have to leverage digital innovation. In the hall, we have retirees, government officials, people from the civil society groups speaking on collaboration, accountability and transparency. These are key things that can only be driven through adoption of digital innovation,” he said.

Olushola Gegele, whose lecture was titled “Agricultures: Sustainable Practices and Opportunities for Retirees”, dwelled on how participants can harness the potentials of organic waste to create wealth and become self-sufficient.

He said sawdust and rice shafts, after burning and left for a period of time in a container, can generate mushrooms, whose waste he said can be used as manure for farming.

“Let’s go for waste management if we want to harness the future. Using what we have locally to create economic prosperity. This is where the World is going. Retirees can look at what they see as waste around them and strive to turn it into what can give them income,” he said.

Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola

Deputy Chief Press Secretary

Government House Ilorin

August 23, 2024.