Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq
The Governor of Kwara State AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend met with a rich crop of Kwara Professionals resident in Lagos, debriefing on the journey since 2019, the measurable steps of the administration in various sectors, and the vision for the state when re-elected in 2023 votes .
The briefing is a continuation of the Governor’s multi-prong stakeholder engagement that culminated a few months ago with town hall meetings and village squares held in various states and broadcast live on other state-owned and private television and radio stations . media platform.
Citing facts and figures from the past and present, the Governor said that the administration is facing a collapsing basic education sector while the Colleges of Education are all down due to non-payment of salaries and non-accreditation.
He said the administration has been able to transform in terms of infrastructural and human resource development, worker welfare, and the introduction of technology to give Kwara children a head start in life.
The governor said that the introduction of the KwaraLEARN program has increased school enrollment by at least 45% and improved numeracy and literacy skills in the first phase which consisted of only four local governments, adding that the program is currently operating in 11 local government areas and will extend to other parts of the state later this year.
He also talked about how the administration improved the delivery of health at the primary and secondary levels and gained the trust of different development partners like UNICEF, while the investment in the sector has earned the accreditation of the state university to run a medical program with a billed medical school. take off at Ilorin General Hospital.
AbdulRazaq said that the country is no longer at the top of the national table in open defecation as before in 2019, while Kwara is now posting a great index in maternal health care and hospitals. He said the administration has revamped many dead waterworks which were mostly built during the Sardauna year, and built two new ones to increase the water supply in the country, including in the capital where tankers used to be public water sources.
“We have deliberately spread development, and we are glad that our people have a better sense of ownership in their country now than before. What we have done is to stabilize Kwara for growth and development,” he said.
“We have many road projects throughout the country. We have planned a sustainable development plan, an agricultural master plan, and a new master plan for our capital, and we are planning for other parts of the country. We are planning different industrial parks, including one in Eyenkorin, another in Kwara South, and an agroprocessing plant in Kwara North,” he said, adding that the administration’s economic expansion efforts such as support for small scale enterprises made Kwara a new hub. .
The governor also talked about the many road projects in the state, including plans to build a road connecting Agbamu to Ila Orangun to boost economic growth in the axis.
He said that the country is attracting different interests and investments, including the upcoming $50 million Olam project, for which some land is allocated and part of the $10 billion renewable energy project that will be financed by the US government.
The governor, who took the time to respond to questions from professionals, also spoke about the problems of farmers and the need to solve them as a solution for food security and national cohesion, the status of Shonga Farm, the administrative garment factory, IV-TEC, and the potential of tourism in the country .
AbdulRazaq also called on Kwara professionals to support the candidacy of APC’s Bola Tinubu, who he said would clearly favor Kwara in infrastructure development and other dividends of democracy.
Professionals have taken turns to praise the Governor’s development measures in the state, with many citing the various areas that have made them feel at home, including interventions in the most remote corners of the state like the Onila community in Irepodun.
“It is true that your government is paying attention to the basic needs of the people, including in Onila. We are very proud,” Mr. Emmanuel Oyebanji told the Governor, appealing for more.
Professor Bayo Oladipo, the dean of the faculty of Education at the University of Lagos, said he was impressed with the governor’s focus on the development of the education sector, especially the quality teaching workforce. He enjoined the Governor to pay more attention to the College of Education to ensure that it fulfills its core mandate of training quality teachers.
“We have no regrets for supporting you in 2019. We are happy with what we have achieved with little resources. People are talking about modest changes here,” said Mr. Bayo Atoyebi, a lawyer and businessman.
Otunba Ademola Adedoyin, a PR expert, said the Governor’s briefing was comprehensive, clear and enlightening as it touched on the situation in 2019, the steps and challenges of the administration, and the road map for the future.
The stakeholders’ engagement was attended by Senators Sadiq Umar (Kwara North) and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South); DPR members Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin and Tijani Ismail; APC Senatorial Candidate for Kwara Central Turaki Salihu Mustapha; APC House of Representatives Candidate for Asa/Ilorin West Mukhtar Shagaya; APC House of Representatives Candidate for Ilorin East/South Ahmed Yinka Aluko; APC House of Representatives Candidate for Edu/Patigi Ahmed Saba; APC leader Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin; Alhaji Olanrewaju Ajiboye; Senior People Advisor (West Africa) at the British Council Anthony Oyeyiola; PR Executive Bola Olukoju; Company Secretary at Eko Hotels and Suite Chief Samuel Alabi; General Manager of Kwara State Television Mr. Michaels Olatunde Oyeyiola; Daily Trust top reporter Abdullateef Aliyu; and legal practitioner Alhaji Tajudeen Adedoyin; among others.