• _Iconic Innovation Hub gets final touches_

Kwara State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology (BIT) Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun on Monday conducted a facility tour of the Kwara Hotel, a hospitality industry that is currently undergoing massive remodeling to meet international standards.

Between 150 and 350 people, mostly Kwarans, are fully engaged in the construction works which have seen the hotel undergo unprecedented facility upgrades and expansions.

Yusuf-Adelodun, who led reporters round the facility in Ilorin, said work has exceeded 25 per cent target that the Ministry gave the contractor for this particular period, commending Craneburg Construction Company for a well done job.

“The work done so far has actually exceeded our initial timeline. From the Ministry’s assessment, this work has already reached 25 per cent completion. Initially, it was supposed to be at 20 per cent at this time. So the contractor is moving fast, and they are doing their work efficiently,” she said.

“In the next few months, we hope it will move faster. So we are within the timeline.

“The decision to remodel Kwara Hotel is because it is a real legacy of Kwarans. Anybody who lives here knows the significance of Kwara Hotel, and His Excellency made a wise decision in turning it around in a manner never seen before.

“This is a completely new facility in terms of what is going in there. You can see the quality yourself. From what you can see, there is a central cooling system for each of the units. There is an automated fire system, an automated DMS system, and you can also see a solar component to power the hotel.

“This means that if there is no light from the national grid or the generators are not working (because we have more than three generators that will service this hotel), you will still be able to have light and maintain the operations of the hotel without any interruption.”

The Commissioner commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for thinking it wise to refurbish the hotel, which she noted is of high importance to the state.

The Ministry is committed to ensuring that the hotel renders great services to be able to meet international standards, she said.

Project Manager, Craneburg Construction Company, Mohammed Yamout, for his part, said their firm is reputed for international standards and will not deliver anything short of the required standards in the execution of the project.

Mohammed said the company is working round the clock to deliver their work within the stipulated period, adding that what is being done is as good as delivering a completely new hotel fitted with the best accessories.

“Whether in the demolition or the rebuilding, everything we do is of international standard. We ensure a good high quality in the execution of mechanical, electrical, and the cooling system, among other features and designs. Many of the fixtures were never there before.

“Our contract has 24 months for delivery, starting from January 2024. We are doing our best and in line with the agreement. It is our promise to deliver it within the shortest time possible.”

The Commissioner similarly conducted journalists round the Innovation Hub, which she said seeks to promote ICT startups technology skills among the youth as envisioned by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The ICT Innovation Hub is at the completion stage, she said, adding that it should be ready by the fourth quarter of the year.

“Already, we have a partnership with IHS Tower. As you can see from the top, the project is taking shape as envisioned by His Excellency,” she said.

“It is a one-of-its-kind facility in the country. It can operate totally off-grid because of the solar system embedded into it.

“The project will attract start-up and technological companies into the state. We look forward to having companies like IHS Towers, Google, and others to be here. This will promote ease of doing business and create job opportunities for more than 10,000 young people.”

Taibat Baba

Press Secretary

Kwara State Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology.

July 23, 2024.

As Kwara gears up for the forthcoming local government elections, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been making social media posts where they try to compare their party’s candidates with the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. In their posts, they inquire, ‘Who is going to win?’, trying to sample the public opinion on their candidates, who analysts claim were imposed on them by Dr. Bukola Saraki.

An online news platform in the State has also joined the trend. In one of its recent publications, it asked, ‘Who does the cap fit?’. Under the inquiry were pictures of the APC chairmanship candidate for Ilorin West and his archrival Musbau Eshinrogunjo of the PDP, who observers have described as a “loudmouth” who does lots of talking rather than thinking. Expectedly, most of the people who commented on the post threw their weight behind the APC candidate.

Before the 2019 general elections, the PDP was the dominant party in the State, having ruled for 16 years. In its four terms on the saddle, analysts say the Party ruled with iron fists and clamped down on dissenting voices on several occasions. Analysts add that aside from using the State’s instruments against Kwarans who criticised the government’s anti-people policies, it also looted the State’s coffer and made a mess of Kwara’s once-alluring legacy infrastructures.

The 2019 general elections came with a revolutionary wind that blew the PDP and the Saraki dynasty away, paving the way for the progressive government of the APC. Analysts noted that Kwarans voted the PDP out because it was unfeeling to the plights of the people, citing how the last administration of former Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed halted civil servants’ promotions and owed salaries for months despite complaints of hunger across the State.

‘Kwara PDP, a circle of defeats’

Since the 2019 tsunami, every electoral season in Kwara has seen the candidates of the PDP losing to the candidates of the APC. In 2023, the PDP intensified their campaigns, going from house to house to sell their candidacies. Few days before the general elections, the former Senate President and leader of Kwara PDP, Saraki, was seen dancing in the middle of the road to a supposed victory song. However, on the days of elections, the PDP candidates were embarrassingly defeated.

Analysts have predicted that the September 21 local government polls will be another round of defeat for the PDP. They argue that the Party has not yet learnt any lessons from what led to its concomitant embarrassing defeats. They note that some members of the Party are fighting Saraki over the 2023 campaign funds he allegedly looted. In addition, observers say some PDP members aggrieved over Saraki’s imposition in the recent LG primaries are likely to work against the party.

‘Can PDP truly challenge APC?’

In the last few months, a number of members of the PDP have resigned from their positions from the party. From its State’s secretary, Alh Rasaq Lawal, to Prince Tunji Moronfoye, its publicity secretary, to its Women Leader, Alhaja Riskat Abdulahi, and its youth leader, Prince Haliru Mahmud, who fought Saraki tooth and nails over embezzled campaign funds before he eventually resigned early this year. The list can’t be exhausted.

Analysts contend that with these prominent figures’ departure from the PDP, the Party is not only going to perform woefully in the next local government polls, but it is also going to lose subsequent elections. They argue that the PDP has lost its steam and does not look like a Party that can win the APC in a serious election.

Ishola writes from Omu-Aran in Irepodun LGA of Kwara State.

I was replying to my WhatsApp messages yesterday when a piece by one Wahab Oba, one of the former senate president Pastor Bukola Saraki’s minions, was shared across the groups I’m a member. Titled ‘AA, stop the shenanigans, leave the traditional rulers alone’, the article was a repeat of the lies against Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections that he ordered the traditional rulers in the state not to welcome members of the opposition parties to their palaces.

It was not long after the engine room of lies and propaganda in the state, Kwara People’s Democratic Party, PDP, shared the lie across social media platforms that his royal majesty Olofa of Offa Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, debunked it and set the record straight. The revered monarch said Governor Abdulrazaq never ordered them to stop members of any political parties from coming to their palace to sell their candidacies. He said those who refused to welcome opposition parties did that at their volition.

The warped narrative in yesterday’s piece that the governor didn’t want the traditional rulers in the state to attend Saraki’s late mother’s burial ceremony was the recycling of the lie the PDP told in 2023. It’s only God who knows how the late Mrs Florence will be feeling on the other side of life right now after discovering that her beloved son and former governor has been using her passing to play his usual dirty politics. Is this how to pay a last respect to the deceased? Not. It’s only a child who does not respect their parents who bring them into political matters.

In the piece, the essayist also accused the governor of not showing sportsmanship because he didn’t personally visit the Sarakis and attend the burial ceremony. He mentioned some top members of the APC who visited him despite being in the opposition. However, he failed to acknowledge the fact that Governor Abdulrazaq was one of the first set of APC leaders who released statements to sympathise with the Sarakis a few hours after they announced the transition of their mother. What’s sportsmanship if not what the governor did?

Maybe Saraki and Wahab Oba wanted the governor to send all members of the State House of Assembly to the ceremony and empty Kwara’s treasury before they would know he cared. Sometimes, Saraki’s minions think others are as daft and deluded as them. Reading the article, I was expecting the author to mention how his paymaster paid a condolence visit to the family of his late predecessor, who he fought when he was alive and after his death. Instead, he went on to narrate how President Joe Biden and his family put a call through his archrival in the forthcoming presidential, Donald Trump, when the latter’s ear was shot by an assailant. Has Biden visited him?

Of course, Sarakites won’t commend AA for sympathising with the Sarakis via an emotional statement not until they review how their master has responded to the events of his political enemies including President Bola Tinubu who the writer said allowed his wife to pay a condolence visit to the bereaved in recent times. Since Saraki got his ‘wuru-wuru’ senate presidency which didn’t go down with many including Tinubu and the party, he has ignored anything that has his name on it. Just recently, President Tinubu celebrated his birthday and the ex-governor couldn’t wish him well. Or should we discuss how he disrespectfully ignored him at a certain event?

Mrs Florence is no more here with us and the best thing the former senate president and his siblings could have done for a loving mother was to organise a prayer session where people of her faith would beseech God to forgive her shortcomings and her among His beloved. Anything outside this is unnecessary. There is no point dragging the governor for not coming to pay your family a condolence visit when he had already shown sportsmanship by sympathising with your family in the open. A gesture you couldn’t extend when your predecessor passed on.

Muhammad, a political analyst, writes from Ilorin.

As Kwara gears up for the forthcoming local government elections, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been making social media posts where they try to compare their party’s candidates with the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. In their posts, they inquire, ‘Who is going to win?’, trying to sample the public opinion on their candidates, who analysts claim were imposed on them by Dr. Bukola Saraki.

An online news platform in the State has also joined the trend. In one of its recent publications, it asked, ‘Who does the cap fit?’. Under the inquiry were pictures of the APC chairmanship candidate for Ilorin West and his archrival Musbau Eshinrogunjo of the PDP, who observers have described as a “loudmouth” who does lots of talking rather than thinking. Expectedly, most of the people who commented on the post threw their weight behind the APC candidate.

Before the 2019 general elections, the PDP was the dominant party in the State, having ruled for 16 years. In its four terms on the saddle, analysts say the Party ruled with iron fists and clamped down on dissenting voices on several occasions. Analysts add that aside from using the State’s instruments against Kwarans who criticised the government’s anti-people policies, it also looted the State’s coffer and made a mess of Kwara’s once-alluring legacy infrastructures.

The 2019 general elections came with a revolutionary wind that blew the PDP and the Saraki dynasty away, paving the way for the progressive government of the APC. Analysts noted that Kwarans voted the PDP out because it was unfeeling to the plights of the people, citing how the last administration of former Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed halted civil servants’ promotions and owed salaries for months despite complaints of hunger across the State.

‘Kwara PDP, a circle of defeats’

Since the 2019 tsunami, every electoral season in Kwara has seen the candidates of the PDP losing to the candidates of the APC. In 2023, the PDP intensified their campaigns, going from house to house to sell their candidacies. Few days before the general elections, the former Senate President and leader of Kwara PDP, Saraki, was seen dancing in the middle of the road to a supposed victory song. However, on the days of elections, the PDP candidates were embarrassingly defeated.

Analysts have predicted that the September 21 local government polls will be another round of defeat for the PDP. They argue that the Party has not yet learnt any lessons from what led to its concomitant embarrassing defeats. They note that some members of the Party are fighting Saraki over the 2023 campaign funds he allegedly looted. In addition, observers say some PDP members aggrieved over Saraki’s imposition in the recent LG primaries are likely to work against the party.

‘Can PDP truly challenge APC?’

In the last few months, a number of members of the PDP have resigned from their positions from the party. From its State’s secretary, Alh Rasaq Lawal, to Prince Tunji Moronfoye, its publicity secretary, to its Women Leader, Alhaja Riskat Abdulahi, and its youth leader, Prince Haliru Mahmud, who fought Saraki tooth and nails over embezzled campaign funds before he eventually resigned early this year. The list can’t be exhausted.

Analysts contend that with these prominent figures’ departure from the PDP, the Party is not only going to perform woefully in the next local government polls, but it is also going to lose subsequent elections. They argue that the PDP has lost its steam and does not look like a Party that can win the APC in a serious election.

Ishola writes from Omu-Aran in Irepodun LGA of Kwara State.

Asa won’t forget your good records: Daudu

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday paid snap visits to inspect projects and touch base with community folks in Asa local government of Kwara State.

The visits took him to the under-renovation Afon General Hospital, Afon Waterworks, under-renovation Primary Health Center (PHC), and Eiyenkorin Afon Offa Odo Otin Road.

Speaking at the residence of Daudu Afon Alhaji Hanafi Kola Balogun at Afon, the Governor said the administration continues to deploy resources to strengthen existing infrastructure and build new ones for the good of the people.

He told the Daudu that the visit was to enable him to touch base with the realities at the grassroots, especially to see the ongoing works in Afon and other parts of the local government.

“We are glad to be back here in Afon. We are not here to celebrate our achievements, but to seek to know what the (new) challenges are, and how we can surmount them and improve on what we have done,” Governor Abdulrazaq said, moderately acknowledging the commendations of the Daudu and other community leaders.

“You can count on us to continue to deliver services to Afon. As you can see, work is going on at Afon General Hospital. We are also visiting the Waterworks. And we have seen several infrastructure projects going on in Afon. We will continue to do more.”

The Governor’s tour coincided with the visit of members of the State Drug Control Committee, led by Pharmacist Barakat Olarewaju, who are on a statewide anti-drug abuse campaign to check the prevalence of drug abuse in the state.

AbdulRazaq thanked the District Head and the people of the town for their support and warm reception, pledging to continue to prioritize their well-being.

He also praised the anti-drug control committee for their patriotism, urging them to intensify the campaign to reduce the spread of drug abuse in the state.

“It is an impromptu visit. You can see that the public money is being spent judiciously, including through the State Drug Control Committee. We didn’t know we would meet them (Drug Control Committee) here. I thank you for the work you are doing. We count on you to help reduce the percentage of drug prevalence in the society,” he added.

Alhaji Hanafi, for his part, hailed the Governor for his impressive works in the local government and for appointing their sons and daughters into key positions.

“We are happy and grateful to Your Excellency for the good work in Afon, especially the construction of the township road,” he said.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

July 15, 2024

I have just read an article by one Kayode Thomas, who identified himself as a journalist, but, by the content of his writing, has no credentials to lay claim to being a journalist. His hack writing explains the attacks that journalism and journalists unfairly get from people who feel maligned and mistake his likes as the archetypes of what journalism is. A simple rule in journalism is that one should check again in the event of any doubt. He failed the simple test all through the gibberish. That is by the way.

Given the pattern of its distribution across social media platforms, it is clear that Sarakites are the ones behind the jejune write-up. It does appear, therefore, that Saraki has no regard for his mother whose death he appears to be playing politics with.

First, it was false that Governor Abdulrazaq did not issue a condolence message to commiserate with Saraki when his mother died. The Governor was apparently the first most prominent politician to condole with the Sarakis, including mentioning Bukola Saraki. The Governor’s statement was issued on the morning of June 18.

Over the past few days, Saraki’s acolytes have been questioning why the Governor has not lined up the entire state to the Lagos home of Saraki to go greet him. Kayode’s writing was the first bold attempt to formalize such a comment. It is a funny thing.

If Kayode was so careless to miss the Governor’s statement and then made a fool himself in making it an issue, it may be too much to ask him to check the cheeky statement that Saraki issued on July 26, 2020 when the father of the Governor, AGF Abdulrazaq SAN, died a few years ago. He did not mention the Governor in his statement despite being the sitting Governor.

This is the same person who is bellyaching that the Governor did not visit him. Again, Saraki never visited the Governor or his family when the incident happened. Why was he expecting from the Governor a courtesy he never extended to him? Perhaps the Governor could have also omitted him in his statement.

The Governor may or may not visit Saraki. He commits no sin. His statement was decent enough, especially for a Bukola Saraki who hardly exhibits such gestures to others not in tune with him.

Thomas said a lot of other nonsense, including a claim that the government has not put the land that the government reclaimed to any use. This is another lie because the government has already started building a multi-storey hospital on the land in its extension of the civil service clinic. Kayode should leave his Lagos hideouts to see what has happened in Kwara.

Kayode also regurgitated a long -discredited claim about local government fund, which the former Commissioner Aishah Ahman Patigi had disproved at different times. Interestingly, it was the same Aishah who allegedly made the comment. She had turned 360 on the said claim. More tellingly, a panel of inquiry headed by a retired judge known for his integrity, Mathew Adewara, also dismissed the claim to be totally false. Reports on the panel findings can be found online. But Kayode, in his hatchet job, wanted us to believe it happened. That is what hired guns do.

All in all, Saraki should go bury his darling mother. He has made enough political capital from the death of the poor woman. Enough of his sense of entitlement, which only goes to show him on a bad light in the estimation of people who think through things. Mbok!

Abdulkabir writes from Ganiki, Sango, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend said the administration’s move to compute and compile the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first time since Kwara’s creation in 1967 is to have an accurate database for proper planning and socioeconomic growth.

The GDP survey will cover key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and a value-chain of goods and services, he added.

The Governor was speaking in Ilorin at a one-day sensitization campaign on the conduct of Kwara State Gross Domestic Product (KW-GDP) Exercise 2024.

The sensitization programme was organised by the State Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ahead of July 13 when the data gathering exercise will commence in the state.

“Our administration is committed to conducting a comprehensive survey to arrive at the GDP of Kwara State beginning from July 13, 2024,” the Governor said through the Commissioner for Youth Development Usman Shehu Ndanusa.

“The objectives of the exercise are to have accurate data, identify key drivers of economic growth as far as our state is concerned, and ensure evidence-based policy decisions in the state, among other benefits.

“With this exercise, investors, development partners, and businessmen do not need to guesstimate the status of the state economy before making informed decisions on where they need to put their money. State fiscal policy will now be formulated without sweat because of the importance of GDP for fiscal policy formulation.”

At the event were the Commissioner for Health Dr Aminah Ahmed El-Imam, represented by Dr Oyeyipo Olabisi; Chairperson, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) Folashade Omoniyi, who was represented by Omolara Ojulari; a retired Permanent Secretary in the State Bureau of Statistics, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim; Hajia Mustapha Amina from National Bureau of Statistics; Adeniran Danjuma from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Umar Olaitan from National Population Commission; some heads of security agencies; and statisticians who are serving across government offices in the state.

Ibrahim, in his goodwill message, urged the people to always be factual in giving information about themselves, noting that accurate data assists the government to plan for the overall development of the state and the nation at large.

Director of Census and Survey in the State Bureau of Statistics, Awotokun S.A, who keynoted the event, said statistics is key to development in any society, adding that this step will bring many advantages not only to the government but also to all business activities in Kwara.

“As it is a norm worldwide, statistics plays an indispensable role in the development of any society. GDP is one indicator that speaks about the health of a state’s economy. The government’s readiness to compile data and measure the general economic activities of the state to know the viability of the state’s economy is highly commendable,” he said, calling it another milestone in the history of the state.

Alabi Shola Taiwo
Press Secretary
Kwara state Bureau of Statistics.

July 6, 2024.

·       President committed to legacy projects for national devt: Works Minister Umahi

·       Lauds Govs Abdulrazaq, Bago for good jobs

Stakeholders across Kwara and Niger States have commended President Bola Tinubu for the bold step to construct the 1000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry superhighway, with Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Umaru Bago calling the project another evidence of the President’s commitment to drive phenomenal socioeconomic growth.

The stakeholders spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, where a stakeholders’ engagement was held to brief the public on the Kwara and Niger Sections of the superhighway as well as rally public support for it and other initiatives of the President.

At least 188 kilometres of the road cut through different Kwara communities, while 125kilomteres of it are on Niger land.

The stakeholders session was at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Works, and was attended by Niger State Governor Bago; Kwara Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi;  federal and state parliamentarians including Kwara North’s Sadiq Umar; Minister of Youth Development Dr. Jamilah Bio; state cabinet members; royal fathers; industrialists led by Dr. Kamoru Yusuf of KAM Holdings; party stalwarts; community leaders; transport unions; farmers’ associations; civil society organisations; marketers associations; and the youths.

AbdulRazaq said the proposed road project attests to the bold vision of President Tinubu to develop infrastructure, which enhances national connectivity and helps to grow the economy.

“What we are doing this afternoon is another testament to the bold vision of President Tinubu and another evidence that our country is in a race to align development priorities and population growth with commensurate infrastructure that connects every part of Nigeria. But much more important is the decision of the President to make the people the centrepiece of this bold vision,” Governor AbdulRazaq said.

The Governor, who was attending another significant event with the President in the national capital Abuja as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, was represented by Alabi.

“For the avoidance of doubt, 188 kilometres of the road traverse different towns and communities of Kwara State. The socioeconomic implications of this Renewed Hope Infrastructure Project for national connectivity and growth cannot be fully appreciated by this generation,” he added.

Governor Abdulrazaq applauded the Minister of Works Engr. David Umahi for the excellent job of combining the expertise of this critical terrain with the political skills of pushing through the different land mines.

“This conversation has helped our people to own the initiative, and I assure Mr. President and his team that our people will give all the support to see it through,” according to the Governor.

Governor Bago, for his part, urged the people from Kwara and Niger to support the federal government and take ownership of the road projects, saying they (projects) are for their own good.

“We need to talk to our people that the government is not grabbing your land; the federal government is bringing development to you. We are not going to pay one kobo for compensation because it is for your good,” Bago said.

The Governor said locals should support the project because of its accompanying benefits, cautioning communities against disturbing contractors or the government for compensation.

Umahi, who commended the supportive roles of Governors AbdulRazaq and Bago for the President, said the Ministry has 18 federal projects in Kwara State, saying more efforts will go into some of them that are deemed to be behind their implementation schedules.

“We are going to engage with the Governor, commissioner for works, the federal controller of works, and the ministry, and review the projects and give them priorities,” he added.

“Four projects are ongoing on tax credit with BUA (in Kwara). They have assured me that these projects will be delivered as soon as possible. They are all government’s projects under President Tinubu. They are not social service projects from the company. We are the one funding it under a different funding mechanism.”

The Minister appreciated AbdulRazaq and Bago for hosting the engagement and their hospitality in the course of the deliberations.

He also commended the roles of the Ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi SAN and Dr. Bio in the approval of the Kaiama-Tesse-Kishi road for construction.

“We just came from Kebbi yesterday where we unveiled the Sokoto and Kebbi States segment. In a number of states where this legacy project will be passing through, Kebbi has the highest length of 250km, the second is Kwara State with 188km and the third is Niger State with 125km,” Umahi said.

“The Sokoto-Badagry road has been in the pipeline for the past 48 years. You can imagine the successive administrations that came and left and not even a single kilometre was done. It remained a dream. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was raised by President Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State 25 years ago. The president will accomplish all the three legacy projects.

“We invite the governors to buy into the project. I am fortunate that the two governors are best friends of Mr President. So, I have no problem as far as the project is concerned.”

Umahi specifically commended the good works of Governor AbdulRazaq in Kwara and as the NGF chairman, saying: “Kwara is lucky to have Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. I have seen a lot of developments since coming to town. But he is not just doing great in Kwara, he is helping the President to properly create good relationships with the Governors. He is a very calm and humble man, and a silent achiever.”

Senate Committee Chairman on Works Barinada Mpigi, for his part, condemned the rate of abandonment of road projects by contractors after they have been mobilised, and said the Senate would not hesitate to sanction the erring ones if they fail to return to sites on time.

Alhaji Kamoru, in his goodwill message, said the project will be a big relief to the entire nation in terms of logistics and travel time.

Modupe Joel

Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor

July 4, 2024

By: Olayinka Fafoluyi

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s huge investments in education are bearing fruits, as seen in the performance of Kwara State students’ recent representation at the prestigious World School Debate in Singapore. This is the second time Kwara students have participated in this international event, the first being in 2022.

In addition to their achievements on the global stage, Kwara students have demonstrated excellence closer to home, securing victories at the 61st and 63rd editions of the national presidential debate in 2021 and 2023, respectively. These accomplishments, under the governance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, highlight his administration’s commitment to education—a stark contrast to previous governments, which mismanaged funds intended for improvement of education in the state.

While the opposition party, the PDP, remains noticeably silent on this achievement, it’s clear that the Governor’s initiatives are transforming education in Kwara. Historically, the PDP has been criticised for mismanaging funds intended for educational development, particularly the UBEC (Universal Basic Education Commission) intervention funds. This mismanagement had previously resulted in Kwara being blacklisted by UBEC, hindering educational progress.

Since taking office, Governor AbdulRazaq has redirected these funds to effectively improve the quality of education in the state. His administration has rehabilitated over 600 schools that were in disrepair and hired over 5,000 qualified teachers, focusing on merit rather than political affiliations.

The education initiative, KwaraLearn, which provides teachers with tablets loaded with standardized curriculums, is another example of how technology is being leveraged to enhance learning across the state.

Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to education has improved schooling and prepared Kwara students to compete and succeed on international stages, such as the World School Debate. His efforts were acknowledged in a 2022 report by Vanguard, which cited both the House of Representatives and the Universal Basic Education Commission praising Kwara’s effective use of UBEC funds.

The impact of these educational reforms in Kwara is a promising sign for the state’s future. They set a standard for governance that focuses on genuine development rather than political gain. His proactive approach in paying off the billions of UBEC funds diverted by the previous administration, investing in schools rehabilitation, merit based teachers recruitment, introduction of KwaraLEARN, retraining of teachers and prompt payment of salaries is a turnaround from past practices. These steps have restored faith in the state’s education system and set a new standard for academic achievement and governance in Kwara State.

Olayinka Fafoluyi is the Senior Special Assistant, New Media to the Kwara State Governor

Kwara State Health Insurance Agency on Tuesday inaugurated a regional office of the agency in Kaiama, Kaiama local government area, assuring the residents of a proper health insurance coverage.

The office which is situated at the premises of Kaiama General Hospital, was aimed at bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people at the grassroots, according to the

Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, who performed the function.

Dr. Jetawo-Winter described social health insurance as the only financing vehicle available to subsidize health services, and to draw in all segments of the population equitably regardless of socio- economic classification.

“Social health insurance not only seeks to create demand, but also helps to improve the quality of services, through our stringent assessment and accreditation process of health facilities and providers, ahead of being empaneled into our pool of healthcare providers under the scheme,” she said.

“As part of our strategies to ensure that access, and availability of healthcare services are made convenient for beneficiaries, the agency has decided to open regional offices in areas that are much far away from our head office in Ilorin, to feed into our hub (Central Office) in Ilorin”.

She said the agency plans to open five branch offices in Kaiama, Baruten, Edu, Offa, and Irepodun LGAs, out of which three have now been opened, including Kaiama.

“These regional spokes will provide the same services to the people in these catchment areas, just as we would provide from our office in Ilorin. At these regional spokes, potential beneficiaries can register for health insurance, enroll, make inquiries, address complaints and concerns, and offer many more services.

“As you all know, our operations are carried out on a digital platform that allows real time delivery of our services, and information collected are registered on our central database. We also like to use these engagements to familiarize ourselves with the communities, and be better acquainted with common practices.

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

“We will not stop or relent in our efforts to ensure that Kwara State attains universal health coverage by ensuring that every household has a health insurance cover to protect them from any catastrophic spending as a result of an illness,” she said.

The event had in attendance the representative of Kwara First Lady Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq and TIC Vice Chairman for Kaiama Local Government, Hajia Fatimoh Jummai; Kwara State Commissioner for Health Dr Aminat El-Imam represented by Director Medical Service and Training, Dr Odunaiya Musilihu; Kwara State Coordinator for National Health Insurance Authority, Hajia Bello O. Bello; representative of Kaiama TIC Chairman and Supervisory Counselor for Health, Hon Yusuf Suleiman; and Wakilin Kaiama, Alhaji Haliru Ahmed, who stood in for Kaiama Emirate Council; among others.

Kwara First Lady, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the TIC Vice Chairman, Kaiama, Hajia Fatimoh Jummai,, commended the agency for its efforts at ensuring the attainment of universal health coverage.

She urged the people of the local government to take advantage of the scheme by enrolling themselves in order to enjoy the benefits accrued therefrom.

“We commend the effort of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in supporting the agency towards attaining universal health coverage especially with the opening of regional offices aimed at bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people”, she said.

Dr Aminat El-Imam, for her part, said the importance of insurance in attaining universal health coverage cannot be overemphasized, commending the agency for bridging the gaps in the delivery of healthcare services to the people.

“As we gather here today, let us reaffirm our dedication and support for Kwara Health Insurance Agency in its mission to take healthcare delivery to the grassroots”.

Hajia Bello, in her remarks, described the creation of the state Health Insurance Agency as a turning point in the efforts to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Kwarans.

“Today, we celebrate the progress we have made, but we also acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. We must continue to collaborate and strive towards our common goal of providing quality healthcare for all”, she said.

The Wakilin Kaiama, Alhaji Haliru Ahmed assured that the Emirate Council under the Emir of Kaiama would mobilize people at various communities and villages to enroll in the scheme.

Mrs Bilikisu Habib and Ibrahim Abdullahi among other enrollees who gave testimonies at the event, said they have been enjoying affordable healthcare delivery since their enrollment in the scheme, and appreciated the state government for what they described as laudable initiative.

Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter and her team later paid a courtesy visit to Palace of the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Sheu Muazu, and were received by the Waziri Kaiama Alhaji Adamu Abdul.

Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola

Deputy Chief Press Secretary Government House

April 17, 2024.