₦airaland Forum

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has renovated the decrepit hostels of the state’s National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) camp, barely five months after he described the facilities as penitentiaries not fit for human living.

The renovation came three months after his administration also supplied the facilities with 400 mattresses, 200 double-bunk beds, 100 long benches, and consumables which the government said were meant to make the camp more conducive for the corps members.

AbdulRazaq had on June 20 paid an unscheduled visit to the Yikpata (Edu local government area of Kwara State) camp of the NYSC where he lamented the condition of the facilities and said they typified the deplorable state of things across the state. He however pledged to fix the facilities, especially the hostels that were an eyesore.

“We are really grateful to Mr Governor for keeping his words. I’m happy to inform you that the government has renovated three main hostels, including the two-in-one Mayflower hostel, and I don’t think there’s any NYSC camp in the country that has the kind of facilities we now have,” Kwara NYSC Coordinator Esther Ikupolati said.

Ikupolati said the camp management has decided to rename the Mayflower hostel as Harmony Hostel in honour of the Governor’s efforts.

AbdulRazaq had openly apologised to the Corps members for the condition of the facilities and said the visit was a challenge to him to do things differently.

“I apologise for the state of your accommodation. After seeing them, it is like a penitentiary. It is not fit for human living,” he had said during the visit.

“The people in charge before should have done better. By saying that, I have thrown a challenge to myself and my administration to make things better.”

The latest gesture strengthened AbdulRazaq’s rising public image as a Governor who matches his words with actions.

His visits to facilities have often been followed by visible actions to change the situation he condemned as abnormal.

Last week, renovation of some blocks of classrooms were completed at the Special Needs School at Apata Yakuba in Ilorin, a few months after the Governor described the condition of the school as appalling.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/11/17/kwaras-nysc-hostels-fixed-five-months-after-abdulrazaqs-visit/

At least 134 local contractors on Wednesday participated in an open bid held for the construction/rehabilitation of 26 urban roads recently advertised by Kwara State Government, conforming to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s insistence that contract awards would be made only after a transparent process.

Yusuf Garba Manjo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, said the Wednesday bids were the first phase of the exercise because roads for consideration under the phase 2 are still being compiled and are scheduled for execution in the first and second quarters of 2020.

“The present administration under the leadership of AbdulRazaq is committed to ensuring that construction works are given to competent contractors,” he said. “In furtherance of this, the Ministry shall follow due process to ensure qualified contractors are awarded the projects to ensure quality service delivery to the people. We shall ensure strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act.”

He said this road construction/rehabilitation is part of the urban renewal programme of the new administration.

The formal bidding saw the ministry’s officials opening and read out the figures and other details of the bid, including the technical and financial parts of the proposals, with Manjo saying successful bidders would be communicated after the exhaustive processes have been followed.

Some of the contractors who spoke with newsmen commended the state government for the transparency employed in the bidding process which the contractors said was the first such measure in years.

The 26 roads in the first phase, which had earlier been advertised in the newspapers, included Ipata Market Internal Road network; Emir’s Road Patigi; College of Education Road linking Unilorin Mini campus; townhall/station road, Erin Ile; Market Junction-Emir’s Palace Gwanara; Tsaragi-Market Batakpan road; Museum Road, Esie; Adeta Primary School Road, Kuntu; Queen Elizabeth School Internal Road; Tipper Garage Junction Amuyo-Adesoye College Offa; Shao Township Road; Osi Township Road; Oro-Ago-Oyate Road; Sobi Specialist Hospital—Gaa-Osiris-Medina Road Ilorin; Awolowo Road Tanke-Danialu Primary School; Asadam Lower Road by Railway; and Gberia Township Road Kaiama, among others.

The bidding process came amid accolades for AbdulRazaq over the recent rehabilitation (asphalting) of Taiwo Road in Omu Aran; Popo Road in Offa; and Dada road in Ilorin, the state capital.



https://kwaragist.com/kwara-holds-open-bid-for-construction-of-26-urban-roads/

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq attends Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa in continuation of his resolve to open up the state for massive economic growth and development by way of attracting investors.

The Governor, coming from the private sector since taking office in May have leveraged on his experience in the sector which has resulted in meetings with several existing and intending international investors with a view to partnering and exploring the huge business opportunities in the state in line with his economic growth plan.

AbdulRazaq is in Johannesburg to showcase the economic potentials of Kwara to investors and seek private sector partnerships in infrastructural development.

During the Forum, at one of the sessions, the Governor discussed robust plan to create a Special Economic Zone in Kwara with major players in the private sector that included the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura, President, Africa Development Bank, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, CEO Olam Africa, Venkataramani Srivathsan, his counterpart from Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and other investors. He said the zone, when created, will help facilitate the export of agro-products like cashew, sugar, among others as Kwara looks forward to exploring its agricultural potentials.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesternight visited the Prospective Corp Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) involved in a fatal auto crash that claimed the lives of two young and promising youths from Kwara while travelling to Taraba State for their mandatory one year National Service.

AbdulRazaq who had earlier directed the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril to lead a delegation of Government to Mokwa General Hospital in Niger State where the victims of the auto crash were receiving treatment, ascertain their conditions and relocate them to Ilorin General Hospital for proper medical attention.

The Governor who described the development as “one tragedy too many” for Kwara also prayed God continue to grant the souls of the departed rest and comfort their families, loved ones and the state.

AbdulRazaq promised that the government will stand by the families of the deceased at this time of grief and provide financial support needed for adequate medical care for the injured who are now receiving treatment at the Ilorin General Hospital.



https://kwaragist.com/kwara-govt-takes-over-treatment-of-nysc-accident-victims/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated Dr (Mrs) Sarah Omotunde Alade on her appointment as Special Adviser to President Muhamadu Buhari on Finance and Economy.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said the appointment was well deserved for a Kwaran who has contributed her own quota to the development of the country as a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Mrs Alade is a round peg in a round hole. She has proven to be an epitome of hard work and good service delivery. She’s no doubt a pride to us," the statement added.

AbdulRazaq urged Mrs Alade to bring her wealth of experience in boosting the economic agenda of Mr. President in making life-changing policies that would impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

"On behalf of the good people of Kwara, we thank Mr. President for yet another honour of appointing one of us to be part of his NextLevel Agenda of transforming Nigeria," it stated.

Mrs Alade, a former Acting CBN Governor and teacher at the University of Ilorin, is from Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.





https://apckwara.com/2019/11/05/abdulrazaq-congratulates-alade-over-appointment/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commiserated with the family, protégés and contemporaries of Coach Usman Adenuja, the head coach of the defunct Kwara Academicals and the Northern Lions, who died on Wednesday, October 29.

AbdulRazaq said in a condolence statement personally signed by him that he was once a player of the Kwara State Football team which Adenuja coached.

“Coach Adenuja was the football coach when I represented Kwara State at the National Sports Festival in Lagos in 1973. He was a great coach and a leader of men. He was great at what he did! I pray to the Almighty God to repose his soul and comfort the family he has left behind,” the Governor said.

“I also commiserate with the entire sports family in Kwara and Kogi States, especially the football family, which benefited immensely from the ingenuity, patriotism and commitment of Coach Adenuja while he held sway.”

The Governor recalled visiting Adenuja in his Okene country home a few years ago while he also spoke with his son, Abubakar, a week ago to inquire about the health of the coach.

Adenuja, a former head of coaching at the Kwara State Sports Council and Ag. Director of Sports at the Council, was from the old Kwara State before the creation of Kogi in 1991. He was also a very skilful footballer.

Top players like Moses Otolorin and Toyin Ayinla, among others, were nurtured by Coach Adenuja.

Prominent coaches who grew up under Adenuja's tutelage included Busari Isola and Albert Adetoye.



https://kwaragist.com/kwara-gov-mourns-recalls-years-under-coach-adenuja/

Kwara State Assembly on Thursday confirmed all the 16 commissioner nominees forwarded to it by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

That came three days after the lawmakers commenced the screening of the cabinet picks in what has been described as about the most thorough yet friendly confirmatory sessions in the state.

Speaker Salihu Yakubu Danladi said the nominees were confirmed following a three-day screening that saw the House asking them questions related to their backgrounds, expertise and track records as Kwarans.

“The nominees are hereby confirmed as commissioners (for Kwara State). We so resolve. I now direct the Clerk of the House to communicate this decision to the Governor,” Danladi said at the plenary after the House had earlier dissolved into a Committee of Whole.

The Thursday confirmation was preceded by screening of four nominees who were the last batch of the 16 appointees.

The nominees were Oyedun Julianna Funke (Isin); Agbaje Wahab Femi (Offa); Joanna Nnazua Kolo (Edu); and Arinola Fatimah Lawal (Ilorin East).

A seasoned educationist and women-rights advocate, Funke said the best strategy for Kwara to keep teachers in the hinterlands would be to pay rural teachers’ allowance to personnel who agree to serve in the villages.

She also called for free accommodation for such teachers and concerted efforts by the host communities to accommodate them in manners that make them comfortable to work and live there.

“If I find myself in the education ministry, I will ensure that we liaise with the communities to embrace the teachers and offer them the necessary support. We will also reintroduce or strengthen School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to help in this regard,” she added.

“The idea of political officials influencing transfer of teachers should stop. Our children are the ones suffering. Once we give them these incentives and take away undue political influence, the teachers will stay.”

Femi, an administrator and grassroots politician, said Nigeria must never prioritise stomach infrastructure at the expense of physical infrastructural development.

“I believe there are other ways of compensating those who have done one thing or the other. But we definitely can’t play with physical infrastructure. Several Countries have left us behind because of our attitude to governance. Our problem is the lack of honest and altruistic leadership, or people who place public interest above personal interest,” he said.

He was later asked to bow and go following massive endorsements of his nomination by the lawmakers who recalled his contributions to the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

26-year-old Kolo told the lawmakers that her nomination was a challenge for her to contribute to the development of the state, calling it a “a rare privilege to serve.”

“I thank God for this rare privilege to serve. It is not by my power or any personal effort. I also want to appreciate the Governor for the golden opportunity given to me to be here today,” Kolo said, her speech repeatedly interrupted by wild applause from the gallery.

She commended her party and community leaders “for their mentorship and support”.

Speaker Yakubu he was impressed by Kolo’s opening remarks which were rendered in flawless British English, urging her to represent “our (youth) constituency well”.

“You’ve got a lot of work to do. You can’t let us down as members of your Constituency,” Yakubu added, asking her to bow and go.

The final nominee was Arinola Lawal whose screening session was the most emotional as lawmakers took turns to praise the role of former Governor Mohammed Lawal — Arinola’s father — in the socioeconomic development and political struggle of Kwara.

She was ushered into the parliament amid loud praises of her father while the screening session was punctuated by shouts of ‘omo L’Aderin’ — one of the many cognomens of Arinola’s father whose tenure as Kwara Governor was the most memorable since 1999 when Nigeria returned to civilian rule.

Arinola, whose managerial experience spans tourism and hospitality sector, was later asked to bow and go as the session became emotional. She was the only nominee who did not say a word throughout the screening.

The Governor had sent a total of 16 nominees for confirmation as commissioners.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/31/kwara-assembly-confirms-abdulrazaqs-cabinet-nominees/

The Kwara State government says it is poised and determined to do things differently in its bid to rewrite the story of the State.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated this at the conferment of the ‘He for She Award of Excellence’ on him by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as a worthy champion of Nigerian women in Akure, at the 19th Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs and Social Development.

Governor AbdulRazaq noted that the margin of the victory recorded at the last poll thrown at the Government the unique challenge to rewrite the story of Kwara State.

The Governor explained that the interest and welfare of the womenfolk and all categories of people are paramount to the government.

"Let me begin by thanking the Nigerian women through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for this honour. My team and I do not take it for granted. Instead, we see it as a tonic to do more to champion the cause of not just women and the girl child but also the cause of every disadvantaged group in our community" he added.

AbdulRazaq who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi stressed that nine out of the 16 commissioner-designates are women is a step in that direction stating that many of these nominees are below 40 years is another deliberate step in the same direction.

The Governor stated further that the State Government can’t continue to mouth inclusive or participatory governance while those who constitute the bulk of the population suffer the most when the chips are down and are never involved in decision making.

He advanced reasons for the appointment of more women in his cabinet "at the conclusion of the last general election, it became clear to us that not a single woman made it to the decision making table in a state where they possibly constitute the largest voting bloc. Men cleared all the elective positions. I was not proud of that development. I was not glad because it goes against natural justice. I was not glad because it runs afoul of international efforts to deepen women empowerment and inclusion in governance. I was not happy because the women who are often the first victims of poverty and other downturns were completely shut out of the space and position where they can explain how it feels to be women and offer the best way out of the many quagmires confronting the society".

AbdulRazaq said the State governmemt have taken concrete steps to not only reverse that injustice but to also emerge as the state with the largest percentage (56.25%) of women cabinet members in the entire Africa.

According to him, women were in fact wired to be kind, compassionate, and good managers of resources and made to endure hardships just to make their family comfortable.

The Governor expressed the belief that the decision to bring as many women as possible to the decision making table will not be misplaced as Kwara is in dire strait and it needs a huge dose of sacrifice and compassion to get through.

"And I’m glad to have heard a number of the nominees say this is a rare opportunity to prove just once again how women are always at the forefront of national development and can always be trusted to deliver" he noted.

Abdulrazaq assured that the government would do everything within available resources to build a Kwara where nobody will be left behind on account of their gender, creed, or disability.

To the nominees, the Governor said Kwarans want to see how the decision, which is a fulfilment of Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), would help engender good governance, probity, and turn things around for the better.

The Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe who represented Governor Nasir El-Rufia said the State would continue to accord due recognition to women in its drive ensure the development of the State.

Declaring the meeting open, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi called on women holding political and elected offices to reciprocate the gesture by rendering selfless service to the people.

Mr Akeredolu highlighted some of the steps taken by his administration to improve the welfare of women.

In her speech, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen noted that Kwara State is the Star State of the 19th National Council Meeting calling on other States to emulate the gesture by giving women due recognition and appointments.

Mrs Tallen who condemned discrimination against women commended Kwara and Kaduna State governments for promoting the womenfolk among others.

Other speakers at the meeting include Speaker of the National Children Parliament, National Council for Women Societies, representatives of United Nations Organisations, NGOs and financial institutions.

Six States Kwara, Lagos, Kaduna, Ekiti, Sokoto and Akwa Ibom as well as the Chief of Air Staff received award at the ceremony.

The Council Meeting themed "gender equality and Social inclusion: a panacea for peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria was attended by women from the 36 States of the Federation including two Commissioner-designates from Kwara State Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi and Mrs Florence Olasumbo Oyeyemi.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/31/we-will-do-things-differently-to-accommodate-all-abdulrazaq/

A pro-women rights group has petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urging it to question a former Kwara State commissioner Tunji Moronfoye over alleged comments disparaging the recent nomination of nine women into the cabinet of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Authored Convener of the Women Against Gender Discrimination (WAGED), Dr Florence Onibudo, the petition accused Moronfoye of misogynistic comments against womenfolk and must not be left to go without response.

Moronfoye had once denied making the comments which have since attracted criticisms from far and near.

The latest petition was copied to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), NHRC Gender Thematic Team Women, Children and Vulnerable Groups National Human Rights Commission, the Women for Peace & Gender Equality Initiative, and Women Consortium of Nigeria.

“We are writing this Petition against Mr. Tunji Moronfoye, a former commissioner in Kwara State and a purported civil society leader, for his careless hate speech, misplaced dark humours, uncultured gender innuendos and gender discriminatory utterances which are targeted towards Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's well-considered nomination of a cabinet having 56.25% women,” according to the statement.

“The said unforgivable and irresponsible comments were reportedly made on the 24th October, 2019 while on air on local radio station called Albarika Fm, Ilorin. And the same unfortunate comments have been echoed and trumpeted across various social media platforms by some ignorant and witless youths who look up to Mr. Tunji and his ilk as perfect mentors of their sociopathy. Some of the misguided youths have even tagged the nomination "bedroom appointment”. This is condemnable, to say the least.

“If hateful and character damaging statements of this magnitude are allowed and overlooked as mere rantings it would be a grave insult on womanhood and would allow continuous barbaric and crude notions that women are mere objects of sexual pleasure and nothing more.

“Considering key provisions against women degradation and gender discrimination in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Protocol to the ACHPR on the Rights of Women in Africa, AU Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, I hope he is summoned by your able commission for questioning and he is strictly taken up for his comments. This would serve the purpose of deterring all future comments with similar naivety.”


https://kwaragist.com/moronfoye-sarakis-ex-aide-under-fire-over-anti-women-comment-as-group-petitions-nbc-rights-commission/

Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, have called on the state government to urgently remove buildings and other obstructions along waterways to avert disaster in the state.
 
Some residents who spoke with newsmen at the flooded popular Unity bridge on AbdulWahab Folawiyo road expressed concern over the perennial flooding in the areas bordering Asa River in the capital city.
 
They blamed the development on the erection of buildings and shops along waterways and other encroachments on the setbacks, thereby blocking free flow of water.
 
A trader, Mr Micheal Alfred, urged the government to direct owners of the offending buildings to vacate immediately in order to safe lives and property.
 
Alfred said flooding has hampered business activities in the area and deserves to be given the needed attention.
 
"The water always disturb us here whenever it rains. We want the government to do something urgent about it. For those that built on waterways, the government should ask them to quit. They should vacate the buildings. Government must do something about it," he said.
 
Another resident of the area, David Ayotunde, on his part, also appealed to the government to find lasting solution to perennial flooding along Asa River at Unity and other parts of the state.
 
"We want the government to help us here. The government should remove the buildings on waterways to guarantee free flow of water," he added.
 
A shop owner, Mr Adeniyi Fabunmi, called for the dredging of Asa River to ensure free flow of water, attributing flooding in some parts of the state to the buildings on the waterways.
 
The State Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, who made an on-the-spot assessment to the area on Monday, noted that the government has directed the Town Planning and Development Authority to reassess the area and recommend appropriate measures to tackle the flooding.
 
He said: "We need to do something to guarantee free flow of water. So, we have called on the Town Planning Development Authority to advise us on how to go about it. We must also ensure that the Asa river is dredged to ensure free flow of water."
 
Mr Alabi, who promised that the government would take decisive actions to safeguard lives and property of the citizens, urged the public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, particularly on the river.
 
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Isiaka Al-Amin, said government would take proactive measures to avert disaster in the state.
 
He urged residents not to throw dirts in the drainages or build on waterways, saying that building on waterways could lead to further destruction of properties.
 
"Don't throw dirt on waterways or build on waterways - whether man-made or natural one. The solution lies in the people and the government too must take proactive measures to ensure that those on waterways vacate the places," according to him.
 
"We will continue to appeal to our people for attitudinal change before taking any punitive measure."
 
 


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/29/kwsg-will-take-decisive-actions-to-safeguard-lives-and-property-kayode-alabi/

Following the heat a report by a Kwara based publishing firm National Pilot which alleged that Kwara state governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq generated, a reporter with the newspaper has confided in this medium that the news was released without due diligence.

Mumini AbdulKareem the reporter who is privy to the development said he wrote the report two weeks ago and the news team decided to go on a fact finding mission but were unable to find proofs to substantiate the claim. They however opted to release the story using the opportunity words "alleged" in case of litigation.

"We technically didn't accuse the governor of any wrongdoing or fraud. We simply reported an allegation," he explains.



https://kwaragist.com/we-didnt-follow-due-diligence-in-reporting-the-story-national-pilot-reporter/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday joined his brother-Governors and elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the official flag off of the Governorship Campaign in neighbouring Kogi State.

Recently rated as the most performing Governor in the country’s North Central Region, AbdulRazaq was recently nominated among the APC Governors to lead the re-election campaign of his counterpart in Kogi, Governor Yahya Bello.

The party had recently inaugurated a 56-member National Campaign Council to prosecute the Kogi election.

That comes amid rising national commendations that have greeted AbdulRazaq’s progressive policies in Kwara State, including the nomination of nine women, or 56.25% of total cabinet pick, as commissioner-designates.

The More Women Group, an amalgam of at least 169 women bodies across Nigeria, on Friday issued a statement praising AbdulRazaq for breaking the yoke of poor representation of women and youths in governance in Nigeria.

A statement signed by Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi and Ms Felicia Onibon on behalf of the group said “this gesture will be recorded in history as the first of its kind in Nigeria….The appointment demonstrates his support for women voices and serves as a recognition of their relevance in the society.”

The More Women Group has long established itself as the voice of women, including female professionals and experts representing different regions, ethnicities, economic, social and political allegiances as well as organisations for youths and persons with disabilities.

The group said “modelling a best practice of this nature is important for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). We therefore applaud the first SHERO Governor for breaking the cycle of women’s exclusion in Nigeria. We applaud the All Progressives Congress (APC) for supporting this development in the state and call on all other state Governors to imbibe the culture of equitable representation for better and prosperous governance.”


https://apckwara.com/2019/10/26/gov-abdulrazaq-joins-apc-gov-campaign-flag-off-in-kogi/

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, has appealed to governors, especially the new governors, to encourage more women in governance by allocating more political positions to them at the state level.

Speaking Saturday at the 2019 Edition of the Arise Women’s Conference in Lagos, Tallen, who commended Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for giving more political positions to women in the State Executive Council, said other governors should emulate them by promoting women representation in governance at the state level.

The 2019 Arise Women’s Conference, which was the 11th edition of the annual programme to celebrate women in Nigeria, was put together by Dr. (Mrs) Siju Iluyomade, Convener and Founder of Arise Women Initiative, a faith-based Non-Governmental Organisation.



Tallen, who was a former Plateau State deputy governor, also assured the women that as Minister for Women Affairs, she would continue to push for women interests across the country

In his address, the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Dr. Mero Al-Makura, commended the Siju Iluyomade-led Arise Women Initiative for empowering women, which according to her is in line with her Future Assured Programme, to reach out to people at the grassroots level.


Also speaking at the event wives of Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti states; Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun and Erelu Bisi Fayemi, commended the Arise Women Initiative for supporting and empowering women through different philanthropic gestures.

In her address, Dr. Iluyomade called on all women to come together to improve villages across Nigeria. She said her organisation has done this by having as its model Dafara Adopt a village programme by building a hospital and provide qualitative health care delivery.



https://kwaragist.com/buharis-minister-tallen-hails-abdulrazaq-over-women-commissioner-nominees/

The Kwara State government Environmental Task Force adhoc committee set-up by Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq have been working round the clock to ensure that the state, especially Ilorin the state capital is kept clean and green while ensuring that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along waterways which has caused flooding in the different parts of the state is totally stamped out.

The government is also aware of the epidemic this unwholesome act of waste disposal could cause; a reason why the Governor in his stride to make governance total and egalitarian, constituted a committee to curb this disturbing trend that had for a long time turned the state capital to a rather filthy Capital City.



The Task Force working on the instructions of the Governor earlier today presented waste bins to market women in the major markets in Ilorin in order to ease the burden of waste disposal and achieve their target goal of clearing the streets of garbage heaps.

Presenting the waste disposal bins to the market women through the Iya-Loja General, Alhaja Sidikat Akaje, the ad-hoc committee which includes Ibrahim Akaje, Yinka Bello, Oloyin Lateef Adebayo, AbdulRazak Jeddah, Kayode Oyin Zubair, Obasanjo Alashi and Musbau Esinrogunjo reiterated the government's readiness to fight indiscriminate waste disposal head-on and reassured the market women that government will cooperate with the leadership of the various market associations in a bid to ensure stipulated rules are strictly adhered to by other marketers and members of the public.


Alhaja Sidikat Akaje responding on behalf of the market women from Ipata, Oja Tuntun, Oja Oba, Gegele and Oja Ago appreciated the Governor's resilience and determination to ensure that Ilorin metropolis is safe for residents and visitors alike. She promised on behalf of the marketers of her association's continued support to the government at all times.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/26/kwsg-environmental-task-force-distributes-waste-bins-to-major-markets/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has fulfilled his promise to urgently upgrade the damaged Taiwo Road in Omua Aran town from surface dressing to asphalt overlay, exactly one week after the governor attended the town’s annual get-together where appeals were made for the government to do the road.

As at Saturday afternoon, Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) has started asphalt work on the road following approval and release of funds for the rehabilitation work.

At the Omu Aran Day held in the town on Saturday, the community called on AbdulRazaq to consider fixing the road, among other requests. He promised to look into the request.

Omu Aran Development Association (ODA) President Bisi Adeyemi called the development a miracle, hailing the speed with which the government acted on the issue.

“That’s a great development. It is a miracle. It is a miracle because the Governor promised something and within a week he’s doing exactly that. That is marvellous. He shows he’s a man of action. The community is highly appreciative and grateful to the Governor for this,” Adeyemi said regarding the road work.

The Governor had also at the same event said his administration’s upcoming social investment programme has been designed to fund small businesses, artisans, and lift many people out of the poverty bracket.

“This journey has begun with the passage of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme Bill by the State Assembly. We will make sure to redistribute wealth to our people, lift many people out of the poverty line, and support small and medium scale businesses to grow,” the governor he said.

“Kwara South, like the northern senatorial district, has huge potentials in tourism and agriculture, especially agroprocessing. The great traditional displays here today attest to this. We are seeking partnerships to attract investments to these sectors. On our part, we are going to commit a lot of money into opening up our state with rural roads and basic amenities like decent schools, sanitation facilities, and functional primary healthcare system. We have recently paid RAAMP counterpart funding.”

AbdulRazaq also said efforts are ongoing to strengthen security across the state and put in place modest infrastructure to facilitate development in the hinterlands, adding that the best strategy to build a viable state was to help small businesses to grow through funding and infrastructure.

“Our administration is also working on putting in place the necessary security architecture to protect lives and properties. We are seriously working to ensure that normal banking operations resume in our major towns like Offa, Omu Aran, Patigi and so on. The current situation where full time banking operations are restricted to the state capital is not acceptable,” he added.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/26/abdulrazaq-redeems-promise-to-fix-omu-aran-road-one-week-after-community-says-its-a-miracle/

The Kwara government says it has started the training of healthcare workers on malaria treatment and the distribution of over 40 million malaria commodities across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Speaking with journalist in Ilorin on the sidelines of the training, Alhaji Abdullahi Nageri, Programme Manager, State Malaria Elimination Programme, said the first phase of the training involved healthcare workers across the five public health facilities.
He said that the training also included six medical centres of tertiary institutions in Kwara.
He said that the training was geared toward improving the capacity of managers and other health professionals on malaria control programmes and understanding the key determinants of malaria epidemiology.
Nageri said that the Kwara government had earlier released N82 million for Malaria-Free Kwara Initiative (MFKI), adding “there is already free testing and treatment of malaria for pregnant women and children under the age five across the 16 LGAs.
He said that malaria had become endemic, especially in the rural areas of the state, which gave rise to the idea of the Malaria-free Kwara initiative.
According by him, some of the tertiary medical institutions for the first phase of the training included Kwara State University, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kwara Polytechnic, University of Ilorin and College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi.
He said that the College of Health Technology, Offa was also among the tertiary medical institutions for the first phase of the training.
Nageri said that the training would also include 56 unsupported Public Primary Health facilities such as the General Hospital, Ilorin, General Hospital, Okuta and Cottage Hospital, ILesha Baruba among others.
Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, the Director Public Health, Kwara Ministry of Health also told Kwaragist that malaria remained a concern of public health in the state.
He pointed out that the highest cases of the disease were witnessed at the LGA levels, adding that six per cent of the outpatients were people down with the disease.
“One in every three people taking sick leave from work is as a result of malaria,” he said
Fakayode disclosed that the training would afford participants the knowledge of proper diagnosing, investigating and treatment of malaria.
According to him, it is now suicidal for people to die of malaria in the state as the state governor has ensured malaria testing and treatment is made free.
Kwaragist reports that some of the anti malaria items distributed included surphurdoxine pyratamine for prevention of malarial in pregnancy, surgical glove, long lasting insecticidal nets and Artesunate injection for severe malaria.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/26/kwsg-begins-distribution-of-40-million-anti-malaria-items-across-16-lga/

The story is stale and belated. The Kwara state government completed work on the bridge on October 4.
You can follow the link below to watch the video of when it was reopened. Although the road is a Federal road the Kwara state government led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq fixed it without demanding a refund from the Federal government.


Below is the news of when it was reopened:

Kwara Gov Completes Rehabilitation Of Moro-Bailey Bridge, Reopens It Tonight

Following the completion of the rehabilitation works on Moro-Bailey bridge by KWARMA, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works and Transport, Dr Yusuf Garba Manjo has reopened the Moro Bailey bridge for motorists plying Ilorin-Igbeti road.

During the reopening ceremony tonight, Dr Yusuf expressed appreciation to the Governor; Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for swift approval of funds to KWARMA for the rehabilitation works.

Similarly, the leaders of the two Transport Unions at Oloje Garage also commended the Governor for his intervention in the repairs of the Moro-Bailey Bridge which they said has eased the pain of travelling that stretch of the road.


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=454255938525163&id=356106001673491

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the appointment of Dr Abdul Jimoh Mohammed as substantive Rector of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, a government’s statement said on Friday.

The statement was signed by the Secretary to the State Government Prof Mamman Saba Jibril.

Mohammed was until his appointment the Deputy Rector (Academics) at the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FPO), Kwara State.

He holds two doctorate degrees, including one in Metallurgical and Material Science at the Witwatersrand University South Africa in 2016. He had bagged his Masters of Engineering (Mechanical) in 1998 from the Obafemi Awolowo University, eight years after he finished his first degree in a Mechanical Engineering (1990) at the University of Ilorin. He also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science.

Dr. Mohammed has managerial experiences in the academics spanning 27 years. He was Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering (FPO) between 2000 and 2004; Dean of Faculty of Engineering (FPO) between 2008 and 2012; and Deputy Rector Academics (FPO) between 2011 and date.

He is a corporate member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers; Registered Engineer with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); corporate member of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers; and Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Data Processing Management.

Dr Mohammed has the patent certificate for inventing hydrogen storage tank presented to him by former Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu — a mark of his academic prowess.

Born in 1966, Dr Mohammed hails from Ilorin in Kwara Central.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/25/kwara-state-governor-announces-new-rector-for-kwara-polytechnic/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday denied purchasing any bulletproof cars for himself or his wife as alleged by a report in a newspaper — National Pilot — linked to a top opposition leader in the state.

In a strongly-worded letter written to the Editor of the paper and copied to newsmen in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq also gave the medium 24 hours to retract and take down the story from all its platforms, apologise to him, or face legal consequences for the libellous report.

“The said report is entirely false, malicious, and was clearly intended to malign the good image of the Governor who has taken public service to a level never seen in this clime before by keeping a profile that is reflective of the state of Kwara and its long-deprived people. We insist that the story was a fake news and reckless journalism at its worst!” AbdulRazaq said in the letter signed by his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye.

“For lack of any facts to smear him, the reporter committed a libel in the guise of quoting a faceless (anonymous) source when he wrote that: “Why the secret delivery in Lagos and why were they not delivered in Ilorin for all to see? This is someone who pretends by driving himself around in Hilux Van to hoodwink unsuspecting citizens….Before the delivery of the new set of vehicles, Mallam AbdulRazaq had given the impression of a frugal Governor who deprived himself of the luxury lifestyle associated with the office in order to cut cost of governance as he seldom drives himself in Hilux pickup to functions.” This is apart from the fact that the entire story was built around downright falsehood!

“As I said in the terse response to the editor and Mumini AbdulKareem, the writer of the story, the Governor has taken no delivery of any bulletproof vehicles, Lexus Jeep or otherwise. The photographs published as proof of such delivery are a figment of the imagination of the reporter. Anybody could take any shot of any vehicle anywhere and tag it anything. But we insist that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has taken delivery of no such vehicle. The Governor, as a mark of his modesty, still drives in his personal Lexus Jeep and other vehicles owned by him.

“We therefore challenge your newspaper to provide unassailable proofs of your claims to show that the Governor has truly taken delivery of such vehicle. In the absence of such proofs, as we are definitely sure there is none, we demand the following:

“Immediate retraction of the story on all platforms or media. This retraction should have the same prominence as the fake news; a public apology disavowing the said story. This again should be given the same prominence as the copy complained about; a letter of apology to the Governor for the reckless copy; and an assurance that the National Pilot will desist from publishing fake news against the Governor.”

The letter said AbdulRazaq has no reason to feign modesty as alleged in the report, adding: “His decision to be prudent with public funds is deliberate and is a pointer to his philosophy of selfless service to the people. His administration is a clear departure from the rapacious regimes Kwarans have recently rejected. The National Pilot is gravely mistaken to think that Governor AbdulRazaq belongs in that horrible past. This Governor, being a true son of the soil, fully appreciates the need to conserve scarce public funds to serve the best interest of the suffering people of Kwara State. He will therefore never engage in reckless spending of public funds. Omo onilu oni je o tu!

“Going forward, we'll like to state that the Governor is a citizen and a public official who reserves the right to keep his good name and that of his family. The Governor also reserves the right to seek legal redress in the event that the demands above are not met within 24 hours from 25 October, 2019.”


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/25/kwara-gov-gives-national-pilot-24-hours-to-retract-fake-news/

Top PDP strategists-turned human rights activist Tunji Moronfoye has said women and young people do not have the competence to serve in public office.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme at Albarka FM on Thursday, Moronfoye criticised Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for nominating women and young people into his cabinet when he could have appointed men and older people to man the various ministries.

"I'm surprised that the Governor is just populating his cabinet with just women and young people. Ministries are supposed to be manned by people who are supposed to be consultants in their fields. What experience do women and young people have to do so?"


Moronfoye, who was for many years a member of the Saraki kitchen cabinet, said Kwarans should reject the cabinet picks of the Governor.

But various callers condemned Moronfoye for his discriminatory comments against the women nominees and young people, insisting he was an agent of backwardness and a bitter opposition figure who is just hiding under a radio programme.

One of the callers insisted that Moronfoye's programmes were being sponsored by Saraki.

"We heard that you have paid for two years for all the radio programmes and what you do basically is just to attack the new government of the people while pretending to work for some faceless NGO. The question is: where did you get the millions of naira to pay for these programmes? Who is sponsoring it and to what end? Who pays for the many cards you share?" a caller blasted him.

Another caller said Moronfoye's programme is purely meant to spread propaganda, likening him to other Saraki's allies like Otukoko Ibrahim, Comrade Ishowo and handlers of Efura, another radio programme which solely attacks the new administration of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

"The new administration is a baby of the people of Kwara State and we can see the great things it is doing especially in the areas of prudent management of public resources, health delivery, prompt payment of salary, education and road maintenance and so on," he said.



https://kwaragist.com/women-young-people-dont-deserve-to-be-in-public-office-says-tunji-moronfoye-other-ex-sarakis-aides/

The Kwara State Government on Thursday disinfected major rivers and adjoining areas in the Ilorin metropolis after health officials recently discovered a polio virus inside the river, a step the government said was to quickly prevent a reoccurrence of vaccine-derived polio cases in the state.

The exercise was part of the activities commemorating the World Polio Day and deepening the campaign against all forms of environment abuses that are capable of posing health hazards to the people, according to Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi who led the programme.

“Government is aware of environmental challenges in the state and would spare no effort in fixing them. River Amule is one of the rivers with polio infection threat and we needed to clear this river and other ones to eliminate polio totally out of the state", Alabi stated this at Amule in Ilorin East Local Government area of the state at the flag off of the cleaning exercise.

Alabi said the government will continue to educate the public to imbibe the habit of keeping their environment clean.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had recently inaugurated a Task Force chaired by the Deputy Governor to ensure proper and timely immunisation against polio and other diseases.

Organized by the state Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Thursday’s sanitation programme was attended by environmental health workers, volunteer students of the University of Ilorin and members of the Rotary Club.

Amosa Isiaka Al-Amin, Permanent Secretary of the Environment Ministry, said the choice of Amule River for the flag off of the clean-up exercise followed a WHO's survey on the polio threatening rivers in the city, where Amule emerged as one that mostly harbours polio virus.

“We found out that this river is one of the rivers that harbour polio virus which means there is the need for its clean-up. The state government has purchased some chemicals that can render the virus impotent and that is why we commence the mop-up exercise here,” according to Al-Amin.

He decried the rising menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and open defecation in the city, noting that it does not only constitute environmental challenge but it is also a threat to public health.

Al-Amin listed other places where public enlightenment will hold to include Alanamu, Sabojo - along Abdulazeez Attah road and Offa Garage, all in the capital city.

Otunba Rick Oladele, Chairman of Health Committee, Rotary Club of Ilorin, lamented that Nigeria remains the only endemic nation in the African Sub-region on the WHO's polio map. He said the club would soon organise a mega walk to further educate the public on the subject.

Miss Lateefah AbdulKarim, President of the University of Ilorin Students' One Health Initiative (UNILOSOHI), emphasised the need for parents to present their children for vaccination to make them healthy and prevent diseases.

AbdulKarim called on residents of Ilorin to maintain a cleaner and safer environment in order to live a healthy life.

“People should be able to understand that the environment is very important to their health and well-being and it must be taken seriously to avert outbreak of diseases,” she added.


Yusuf Folashade
Press Secretary
Ministry of Environment and Forestry
24 October, 2019.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/24/world-polio-day-kwara-disinfects-rivers-other-places-to-stem-polio/

Isiaka Salaudeen and Adewumi Sanjo have emerged champions of the first edition of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s Ludo and Ayo Olopon Competitions respectively.

Salaudeen defeated Abdulateef Lawal 2-1 in the Ludo event’s final, while Sanjo edged out Bamidele Gbenga in the final of the Ayo Olopon category.

The competitions’ final matches took place on Wednesday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara Stadium Complex in Ilorin.

In the third-place games, Isiaka Salaudeen defeated Tola Adeniyi in the Ludo game while Ade Ajireni beat Adewumi Aluko in Ayo Olopon.

Speaking after the competition, the state’s Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem, challenged the participants to see sports as a good career.

“The council is ready to encourage all the traditional sports clubs in the state ahead of the next National Sports Festival (NSF),” he said.

Kazeem, who commended the organisers, Ifesowapo/Abe Igi Anu Traditional Games Centre and the Kwara Traditional Sports Association, also reiterated the council’s commitment towards developing traditional sports from the grassroots.

Speaking earlier, the President of Ifesowapo/Abe Igi Anu Traditional Games Centre, Olushola Olarewaju, enjoined members of his group to be good ambassadors of the association.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/24/winners-emerge-in-gov-abdulrazaq-sports-championship/

The Kwara State Government has again reiterated its administration's commitment to support innovative ideas and a truly transformative education system in the State.

The Executive Governor of the State, Mallam AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman disclosed this during the National Library 2019 Readership Promotion Campaign with the theme: "Reading, A tool for Empowering the Vulnerable" held at Borstal Training Institute, Ganmo, today.

The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Mariam Ayodeji Garba stressed the need to consciously inculcate the values and norms of reading culture in children.

In his words, "We must consciously inculcate the values and norms of reading culture in our children. We must consciously reward excellence and frown at mediocre performance ".

Mallam AbdulRazaq also revealed that the state government will soon start the renovation and refurbishment of Kwara State Library with full internet access and other accessories necessary for 21st century education.

According to him, the step would no doubt boost reading culture and human capital development in the state.

Earlier, the National Librarian, Prof. Aina L. O. who was represented by the Kwara Sate Director of National Library, Mrs. Kafayat Olani commended the state governor for taking education development a priority in the state.

She therefore enjoined all stakeholders in the education sector to join hands with the present administration in its bid to take education to greater heights.

The program featured debate and poetry recitation by students of Borstal Training Institute, Ganmo.

Yakub .K. Aliagan
Press Secretary,
Min. Of Education & HCD.

https://kwaragist.com/education-development-is-a-priority-of-our-administration-kwsg/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday released an additional six-person commissioner-nominees’ list, with five more women added to what has now gone down in history as Nigeria’s most gender-friendly government cabinet.

The latest list, which again reflects the state’s demography, means that Kwara now has nine women (60%) and seven men (40%) commissioner-nominees who included top bureaucrats, enterpreneurs, educators, professionals and grassroots politicians.

Kwara has 16 local government areas.

The latest nominees are Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West); Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun); Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin); Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero); and Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro).

The full list came five months after the governor apologised to and pledged to compensate for women’s loss at the general election in which 100% of the elective positions went to men, according to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.

The list was unveiled on Tuesday at the Kwara State House of Assembly where Speaker Yakubu Danladi said the screening of the nominees would begin next Tuesday, October 29.

AbdulRazaq had initially released a four-woman list which was followed a few weeks ago by another list of six men.

The latest nominees are Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun); Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West); Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun); Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin); Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero); and Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro).

An entrepreneur and renowned community development advocate, 38-year-old Harriet hailed from Okeayo/Ora community in Ifelodun local government area of the state.

She was an officer at Surveillance Department of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) Abuja between 2007 and 2011 and was until the appointment the Chief Operating Officer of M&P Micro Credit Scheme. Harriet, a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has contributed immensely to her community’s development, including the ongoing relocation of Ora Community Grammar School, construction of the AWUA bridge that connects her local government to Isin local government.

Harriet is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State Polytechnic and Abadina College of the University of Ibadan.

Fatima Bisola, who holds a postgraduate Diploma in Education from Usman Dan Fodiyo University, graduated from the Department of English of the University of Ilorin in 2011 . She attended Federal Government Girl’s College Omu Aran.

The 30-year-old nominee is currently an employee of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), attached to the Sheikh AbdulSalam Junior Secondary School, Ilorin.

The nominee is an author of two publications: Aesthetics of Africanism in Camara Laye’s African Child and Radiance of the King and Effect of Mother Tongue Interference in Spoken English.

Deborah, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University of Ado-Ekiti, currently teaches at the ECWA Secondary School Omu Aran.

The 45-year-old nominee has taught for over 10 years. She is a leader of the Irewolu Cooperative Society which facilitates women’s access to small loans and credit as part of the community’s efforts to empower women in small scale businesses.

Funke, 57, holds a Bachelor of Education (Guidance and Counselling) from University of Ado-Ekiti and Nigeria Certificate of Education from Kwara State College of Education Ilorin (Integrated Science).

She worked at the Kwara SUBEB as School Support Officer (SSO) between 1980 and 2015 where she retired as a Deputy Director.

Funke, a chieftain of the ruling APC, was Organising Secretary of APC Women Elders’ Forum and Secretary of the Kwara State chapter of the Women Teachers Association of Nigeria.

Florence, 31, holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry. She is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and National Teachers’ Institute Kaduna.

She was until her appointment the Administrative Manager and Public Relations Officer at Roemichs International School Ilorin. She also worked at Dabco Nigeria Limited Ilorin.

Florence is a member of the ruling APC who participated in the party’s electoral campaigns. She has always been a political activist in her locality where she has acted as female youths leader and canvasser.

Rotimi, a 38-year-old political and community development campaigner, was until his appointment the Energy Development Coordinator for the BUA International Limited where he was Projects Coordinator at the conglomerate’s multimillion dollars Lafiagi Sugar Company.

He was between 2013 and 2015 the Manager, Gas and Power Package at Bua Edo Cement, a subsidiary of the Bua Group in Edo State. He was also Energy Development Coordinator of Epe Power Generation Limited, another subsidiary of the BUA Group.

Rotimi is an alumnus of the Newcastle University, United Kingdom, where he bagged a Post Graduate Diploma in Pipeline Engineering in 2009. He read Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ilorin where he graduated in 2006. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

A scion of an influential political family from Moro local government, he has expertise and interests in Agriculture, Plant Mechanics, People Development, Supply Chain Management, and Workshop Efficiency, among others.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/22/kwara-gov-set-historic-record-releases-60-women-commissioner-nominees-list/

Kwara State Government Environmental Task Force begins clearing of refuse within Ilorin to ensure that the state capital is clean, green and hygienic.

Vulnerable areas such as Tanke, Ipata Market, Oja-Gboro, Gambari and Emir's palace areas has been cleared of the garbage that has overtaken the capital city for long and others areas will get similar touch of the committee too.

Members of the committee include: Ibrahim Akaje, Yinka Bello, Oloyin Lateef Adebayo and AbdulRasaq Jeddah. Others are Kayode Oyin-Zubair, Obasanjo Alashi and Musbau Esinrogunjo.

The Governor had earlier on assumption of office setup a committee led by retired Justice Raliat Elelu which he said will look into environmental issues such as unlawful dumping of waste and other violations that hurt public planning and endanger public health.

AbdulRazaq in his words, “We have also set up a committee in place headed by Justice Raliat Elelu to look at the issue top down on environment and once they submit their report things will start changing. If you drive through our major roads, you will see refuse all over the places. But give us time all these will be a thing of the past.”

However, It is pertinent to note that the environmental task force is an ad-hoc committee that is charged with clearing of garbage heaps within the metropolis until the Justice Raliat Elelu led committee that is seeking a lasting, sustainable solution to waste management problem in the state submits its report.

Part of the challenges facing the state government on waste management has to do with Local Governments not being able to play their part in waste collection and management because 100% of their allocation from federal goes into paying salaries which has further compounded filthy and unhygienic conditions this administration met based on the negligence of the previous administration.

Kwara State Government will spend at least N100m to renovate the State Library Complex and use it as a launchpad for e-learning and temporary headquarters for the state’s innovation hub, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said late Wednesday.

He said the renovation work would begin very soon as part of his efforts to reposition the education sector in the state and prepare the youths for a brighter future built on innovative skills and opportunities to be among the best in the country.

“We are going to have an innovation hub here. I have recently visited the state library and it is in a bad situation. The books are not up to-date and the roof is leaking. The whole place is decrepit,” AbdulRazaq said during a meeting with the Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

“So, we are going to spend N100 million to fix it. Once it is fixed, we will begin our innovation hub there as temporary site. We will get some space there for e-learning process with free internet access so that people can go and do what they need to do.”

The students leaders were led to the meeting by President Comrade Adebayo Saheed Olosasa of the NANS in the state.

AbdulRazaq also said his administration has jerked up bursary for students from N100m inherited from the last administration to N200m in the revised budget just passed by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

He added however that payments would be made directly to individual beneficiaries based on an online data base already being generated by the Ministry of Education.

“Now, we are insisting on disbursement of bursary directly to the students . The reason for that is that when I looked at the Social Investment Programme of the federal government —money market, N-Power and trader money — I noticed that every beneficiary was getting their money because it was direct alert to them. But the federal government’s other intervention project like rice and cassava hardly got anywhere because some people were just diverting it. So I don’t want students money being diverted,” he said.

“And I am also surprised that we don't have a data base for students. There should be a database which the ministry of education is now doing. It is on the basis of having database that they can disburse to the students directly. That database, once it is robust and interactive, will be shared with the students and unions across all institutions. With this, students unions can even hold elections online. That is e-governance, that is where we are going to. We are not going to wait for the world to leave us behind.”

AbdulRazaq also promised to ensure that students are carried along on issues affecting them, urging them to shun hard drugs and other habits that could be inimical to their future.

Olosasa, for his part, commended the Governor for his giant strides in the education sector and other areas since his inauguration.

He however called on the administration to pay more premium to the needs of the students across the state. He appealed to AbdulRazaq to revive the practice of giving subvention and operational buses to the students’ bodies as were done by the late former Governor Mohammed Lawal.

Olosasa commended AbdulRazaq for the nomination of Miss Joanna Kolo, calling on him to consider appointing one of the students’ leaders “who understand our situation” as Special Assistant on Student Matters.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/17/gov-abdulrazaq-to-spend-n100m-on-state-library-e-learning-innovation-hub/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday called for urgent diversification of the Nigerian economy to lessen national reliance on crude oil, saying the country must invest in agriculture and small and medium scale enterprises.

“The theme of your study tour —Economic Diversification and National Development in Nigeria —is very apt. The time has come for us to diversify our economy and drive growth to cope with our surging population,” AbdulRazaq said in Ilorin during a meeting with the participants of Course 28 of the National Defence College who were on a study tour of Kwara State.

“Our security as a country is directly linked to our ability to engage our population in productive endeavour and guarantee food security.”

AbdulRazaq said his administration is prioritising small and medium scale businesses and agroprocessing.

He added: “Kwara State under us is engaging with various companies to grow small and medium scale businesses. We are also encouraging bigger corporations to deepen their investments here. Very soon, the Kwara State Social Investment Programme will come on stream, especially targeted at lifting the poorest out of poverty line, empowering the artisans and small business owners and teaching skills to thousands of others.

“We do not claim to know it all. Please feel free to offer us your own insights on how to achieve more in our journey to build a viable state.”

Speaking earlier at an event commemorating the World Food Day, AbdulRazaq said Kwara will partner with various stakeholders to ensure food security, especially sugar production which he identifies as major comparative advantage for the state.

“The way forward is agriculture and agroprocessing. That is our future. We are in central part of Nigeria and Kwara alone can feed the nation. This is particularly true in sugar production where we have the potentials to feed the whole country,” he said, citing the upcoming $350m sugar refinery by BUA Group, the coming on board of the Dangote Group and ongoing talks with AMCON to revive the Bacita Sugar Company in the state.

The Governor also restated his commitment to lift as many poorest of the poor as possible out of the poverty line through the Social Investment Programme that is currently with the State House of Assembly, hoping that investments in small enterprises would spread prosperity and comfortably bring more people into the tax net of the state.

Responding, Commodore Henry Hassan, leader of the Course 28, commended the Governor for his giant strides in helping the people, adding that his “unusual way of mobilising your men to go to the grassroots and see things for themselves” stands him out as a great leader.

Hassan said his team would share their research outcome with the administration as part of the overall national strategy to ensure food security and development.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/16/kwara-will-partner-with-various-stakeholders-to-ensure-food-security/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved N60m counterpart funds to key into the World Bank-funded Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) that would help attract development to rural areas.

The payment, which is a requirement for any state to be considered for the initiative, would enable the Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCDA) access over N1bn to implement micro-projects in various communities that express interest and pay 10% of whatever project to be sited there.

Each community can benefit up to N10m project in the areas of health, education, water supply, environment, infrastructure, and gender/vulnerable group project empowerment, according to a statement on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning and Economic Development AbdulAzeez Tayo Oyelowo.

“In addition, vulnerable and physically challenged are to benefit from micro-projects to be implemented through access to funds. This will help through skills acquisitions and support with tools for operation,” the statement added.
The CSDP is different from the multi billion naira Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) for which the Governor had paid the first tranche of N200m counterpart fund earlier in his administration. Under RAAMP, several rural roads would be constructed to facilitate access to agricultural produce.

The state government, meanwhile, has reopened the Moro-Bailey Bridge for traffic following prompt rehabilitation of the bridge by the Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA).
The agency has also commenced rehabilitation works on the damaged portions of Ilorin-Ogbomosho old federal road at Otte to ease free flow of traffic in the area.


https://tribuneonlineng.com/community-project-kwara-pays-n60m-counterpart-fund/amp/

The Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary (NCAC) at the weekend conferred the distinguished citizen award on the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Health Matters, Prof Wale Sulaiman.

Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada Adeyinka Asekun said the award was to recognise Prof Wale Sulaiman’s philanthropic spirit and commitment to help strengthen healthcare delivery back home in Nigeria.

Prof Sulaiman thanked NCAC for the honour, pledging to continue to give back to the society as a citizen and a professional.

“We were overjoyed to return to Calgary where our journey in North America started 22 years ago! We are very excited to continue our mission to transform healthcare in Nigeria, especially in my role as Special Adviser on health matters to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State,” the Special Adviser said in a post on Wednesday.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/09/kwaras-sa-health-bags-nigerian-canadian-award/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRahman on Wednesday sent to the House of Assembly a list of six additional commissioner-nominees, comprising top-notch professionals and administrators with rich political backgrounds.

This comes a few weeks after AbdulRazaq unveiled a list of four women commissioner-nominees, including the 26-year-old Joanna Kolo.

The new nominees are Barrister Salman Jawondo (Asa); Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi (Baruten); Dr. Raji Razaq (Ekiti); Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen (Kaiama); Wahab Agbaje (Whyte, Offa); and Murtala Olarewaju (Oyun).

With 29 years of post-qualification experience as a lawyer, Jawondo is almost synonymous with the longstanding struggle to change the political status quo in Kwara with his numerous court cases and advocacy to challenge what he considered the anti-people decisions of the previous administrations.

Barrister Jawondo is an alumnus of the University of Lagos where he read Law between 1986 and 1989. He was at the Nigerian Law School between 1989 and 1990. A disciplinarian and no-nonsense lawyer, he is a member of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in the North Central Zone and was Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, between 2009 and 2011. He is the founder of the Jawondo &Co., Legal Practitioners. He is from Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

A former chairman of Baruten Local Government and a grassroots politician, Aliyu Kora Sabi has a Bachelor’s degree in Education (Guidance and Counselling), PostGraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters degree in Public Administration from Universities of Ado Ekiti and Ilorin, among others. He taught in various schools and served as a senior administrative officer in his Baruten local government for nearly two decades.

Sabi, who was born in 1970, is from Yashikira town of Baruten Local Government area of the state.

Born in 1979, Raji Razaq is the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Health Centre Agwara, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

A polyglot, Dr Razaq attended the University of Ilorin for his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery between 2000 and 2006; the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, for his Master in Public Health between 2015 and 2017. He was the NYSC Chief Medical Director, Kebbi State Camp Clinic in 2007 and an aspirant for the House of Representatives in Ekiti/Oke Ero/Irepodun/and Isin Federal Constituency.

He hails from Osi in Ekiti Local Government area of the state.

Architect Saifudeen hails from Kaiama Local Government area of Kwara State. He holds a Bacherlor’s degree in Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture — both from the University of Jos between 1993 and 1999.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON).

Saifudeen has worked with various local and multinational firms in his area of expertise, including French-owned Bouygues Nigeria Limited where he was Assistant Design Manager; Lebanese Sageto Limited where he was Project Coordinator; and Crushed Rock Industries Nigeria Limited owned by Germans.
He is the Managing Partner at Constyle Services Limited; Chairman of Fiasminat Limited; a partner at Kab Development Services. Saifudeen is an accredited resource person with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and a member of the Education Sub-Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

Murtala Olarewaju is a grassroots politician, an administrator and a teacher. He attended Federal College ofEducation Kontangora for his National Certificate of Education; Kwara State Polytechnic for his Higher National Diploma; and Ladoke Akintola University for his Master in Public Administration. He also has Teacher Grade II Certificate from New Bussa Teachers College Niger State.

He taught at various schools between 1982 and 1998. He was an administrative officer with the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission between 1998 and 2017. He retired as Deputy Director of Administration in 2017. Olarewaju hails from Ijagbo town in Oyun Local Government Area of the state.

A successful businessman and administrator, Wahab Agbaje (Whyte) holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Ladoke Akintola University. He also bagged High National Diploma in Accounting from Kwara State Polytechnic and National Diploma in Accounting from Federal Polytechnic Nasawara.

Agbaje is the Managing Director of Whyte and Associates Nigeria Limited. He is the Community Representative of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Offa. A senior member at the Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Management, Agbaje has had at least 12 years experience in educational and business administration, conflict resolution, agriculture, revenue mobilisation, construction and contract negotiations.

Whyte, as he is fondly called, has been a grassroots politician since 1990. He was a member of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee for President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation (2018) and Director of Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Campaign Organisation (2018). Agbaje was National Vice Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). He was elected state chairman of the party in 2006. He was also councillor-elect Shawo South West Ward, Offa Local Government in 1996.


https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/09/kwara-gov-sends-six-additional-commissioner-nominees-to-assembly/

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday inaugurated the State Task Force on immunisation and primary healthcare, saying the exercise forms a part of his administration’s efforts to stamp out polio and strengthen access to primary healthcare.

“The presence of an active State Task Force on Immunisation is a prerequisite for quality polio campaigns and routine immunisation services. The role of the Task Force amongst others is to coordinate/supervise all Polio Eradication Initiatives (PEI) activities in particular and Primary Health Care in general in line with recommendations from the State Technical Team,” AbdulRazaq said in an address inaugurating the Task Force headed by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi.

“It is also to be noted that one of the requirements for the full implementation of Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) in the State is the functionality of the State Task Force especially with the prevailing outbreak of vaccine-preventable poliomyelitis in the State.”

He urged members of the Task Force to work closely with Alabi to deliver quality primary healthcare to the people of Kwara.

Alabi, for his part, commended the Governor for his leadership which has raised the quality and depth of healthcare services available to Kwarans.

“We appreciate Your Excellency for the trust reposed in us and we pledge to work very hard to fulfil the expectations of our people to improve healthcare services so that Kwara can regain its leadership position in the scheme of things.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Rhoda Ajiboye, said the inauguration was in line with the Abuja Commitment by all the state governments to support polio eradication and routine immunisation in the country.

“This Task Force will provide political support and mobilise necessary resources for the implementation of both routine and supplemental immunisation activities in the state,” she said.

AbdulRazaq had recently paid counterpart funds to strengthen polio immunisation in the state following the outbreak in January 2019 of some vaccine-derived polio cases. He had also recently paid counterpart funds to facilitate free malaria treatment, nutrition, and other basic healthcare services.

Membership of the Task Force include the Deputy Governor (Chairman); Chairman House Committee on Health; Representative of the Wife of the Governor; Representative of the Ministry of Health; Representative of the Ministry of Finance; Representative of the Ministry of Information; Representative of the Ministry of Environment; Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA); Directors of the SPHCDA; State Immunisation Officer; Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON); Representative of Ministry of Women Affairs;
Representative of Ministry of Education; and representatives police, army, artisans, civil society organisations and religious bodies, among others.



https://www.fidelinfo.com/2019/10/04/counterpart-funds-kwara-gov-inaugurates-task-force-on-immunisation/

Kwara State House of Assembly on Thursday said it directed the revocation of a Chalet gifted to former Governor Bukola Saraki because the property belongs to the state government and there is no evidence that the politician paid for it.

The House, in a statement by spokesman to the Speaker, Ibrahim Sheriff, in Ilorin, the state capital, said the allocation of the posh property to Saraki by the Abdulfattah Ahmed administration was in “violent violation” of the Kwara State former Governor’s Pension Law 2010 which had already taken care of him within the provisions of the law.

The statement was a response to a report in the Thisday of Wednesday in which the government was accused of witch-hunting the Sarakis, especially the former Senate President. The report had also claimed that the House’s resolution directing the government to reclaim the land on which the late Olusola Saraki erected his political headquarters, known as Ile Arugbo, was contrary to the promise of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of not witch-hunting anyone.

But the statement said the report had been written to express the sentiment of the politician and not to reflect the true situation of things in Kwara or encourage accountability.

The statement said the Ile Arugbo had been erected on a land originally meant for the expansion of the Civil Service Clinic and Phase II of the State Government Secretariat without any evidence that anyone paid a dime to the government for the land.

The House said the noise about the affected priorities was politically motivated as other public properties unlawfully taken over were also being looked into.

The statement read in part: “We dare say that allowing impunity to stand, no matter who is affected and how long ago it had taken place, is a disservice to the state and its people. It would be a signal to those coming that impunity pays and would be allowed to stand. The two developments upon which the article is based reek of impunity of the concerned party which the Thisday is apparently trying to protect for reasons not connected to the interest of Kwara and its people.

“Apart from the fact that the purported sale of the Alimi Chalet did not conform to the Kwara State former Governors' Pension Law 2010, as amended, which incidentally was the brainchild of Senator Bukola Saraki, we contend that there is no record anywhere that Senator Saraki paid a dime to have the property transferred to him. The transfer only fits into what the late Fela Anikulapo called 'paddy-paddy' arrangement. Unfortunately, despite expositions made in the findings of the House Committee on Land Housing and Urban Development about the illegal acquisition of the Alimi Chalet, ThisDay publication only relied on comments by Senator Saraki's sympathizers to form opinion of acclaimed due process in acquisition of the property.

“We challenge the affected party to prove the contrary to not just the people of Kwara but to the entire world they are trying to instigate by presenting evidence of payment for the property. The Pension Law took adequate care of the former Governor. The pension law allows ex-governors a five bedroom duplex, as opposed to the Alimi Chalet, which consists of three (3) separate Chalets with 3 boys’ quarters of 3 rooms each, and therefore does not fit into the recommendation of the Pension Law of 2010. Also, aside from the 3 houses on over one hectare of land on Alimi Road that was supposedly given to Saraki under the State Pension Law, Senator Saraki also got N250 million under the same Pension Law to build another retirement home for himself. The said Alimi Chalet, which was gifted to him, is the property of the people of Kwara State and was never contemplated as a gift to former Governors.

“Is the ThisDay saying we should allow such transfer of public property, built with taxpayers' money for the use of serving officials, to individuals in the name of peace or a non-existent promise? Shall we remind ThisDay that there can never be peace without justice and fairness?

“We also insist that the ThisDay got its information completely wrong about the Ile Arugbo. The said property was erected on a land earmarked in the State Government Gazette for the expansion of the Kwara State Civil Service Clinic and construction of Phase 2 of the Kwara State Government Secretariat. There is no record anywhere that a kobo was paid on the land by the Asa Investments Limited, the firm to which the land was transferred on May 9, 1991. There is also no record that the owners of the said Ile Arugbo ever paid a dime to the government coffers. It was just a case of whimsical transfer of public property to individuals without any documentation or financial payment justifying such. We want to place it on record that this is only a part of efforts to return sanity to the state. We will be bequeathing a bad legacy to generations unborn if we ever close our eyes to such impunity in the name of politics.”