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Tag: AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • 2015: Billboard vandals to be punished

    2015: Billboard vandals to be punished

    A head of next year’s general elections, anyone caught defacing or vandalising approved billboards or outdoor advertising will be sanctioned in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said yesterday.

    About a fortnight ago, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused each other of allegedly destroying billboards in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Ahmed urged parties, politicians and other stakeholders to comply with the rules of outdoor advertising and signage to maintain integrity and professionalism in the sector.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kishra, spoke yesterday in Ilorin at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWSSAA).

    Ahmed said: “As we approach another general elections, outdoor advertising is likely to play a more pivotal role in political campaigns.

    “Therefore, anyone or group who defaces or otherwise destroys any approved billboard or other outdoor advertising will be breaking the law and will be dealt with accordingly.

    “To me, the answer to the often-violent struggle for political power in this country, especially during elections, is very simple. If you do what the people want or inspire hope in them, they will vote for you, even if the opposition tears down all your posters and tramples on your billboards.

    “On the other hand, a thousand billboards will not get you elected, if the voting public has no confidence in you or in your capacity to deliver what they want at the time they want it.”

    The governor urged KWSSAA to “develop creative ideas and business processes that will be of benefit to all stakeholders in the industry”.

    The agency’s General Manager Ahmmed Olufadi said KWSSAA’s task is to attract further investment into the state.

    He said: “Like other regulatory bodies, our task is huge and challenging. This is the reason we are soliciting for your understanding to attract further investment into the state.

    “May I make it clear that we are out to make sure you are in business? We are ever ready to listen to your input and how best to achieve our mutually beneficial desired objectives.

    “At this forum, I am pleased to meet with you. I hope this will be the beginning of a better system for controlling advertisement displays, which is fair, balanced, consistent, efficient and to promote an aesthetics and safe environment in the state.”

  • Kwara gov gets voter’s card

    Kwara gov gets voter’s card

    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, displaying his voter's card at Share in Ifelodun LGA at the weekend.
    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, displaying his voter’s card at Share in Ifelodun LGA at the weekend.
  • Kwarans in diaspora honour Ahmed

    Kwarans in diaspora honour Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has been given an award by Kwarans in the Diaspora at the weekend at their national convention in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.

    Ahmed was awarded with the “2014 KSANG Merit of Honours Award” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Schaumburg, Chicago, by the Kwara State Association of Nigeria, North American Chapter (KSANG).

    He is the second person in the 13-year history of the association to receive this honour. The pioneer winner was former Governor Bukola Saraki , in 2010 at Seattle in Washington State.

    The ceremony, which climaxed a three-day 7th national convention, was witnessed by the Lt. Governor of the State if Illinois, Sheila Simon, among prominent American and Nigerian dignitaries.

    KSANG cited Governor Ahmed’s “ exemplary and unprecedented collaboration with

    KSANG in developing Kwara and the governor’s “proactive and productive engagement of youths “ as reasons for its award to him.

    Lt. Gov Simon,  who watched a video clip of the governor’s activities in

    Kwara State, hailed KSANG “for recognising competence in governance”.

    She promised that the State of Illinois would collaborate with Kwara.

    Governor Ahmed, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Communication Strategy, Alh. Abdulraheem Adedoyin, accepted the honour “with humility” and praised KSANG for partnering his administration, especially in the area of healthcare.

    The governor acknowledged the series of medical missions undertaken to

    Kwara by KSANG, citing the mission to Ilorin where over 4,00kwarans were screened and treated for diabetes and blood pressure.

    He urged Kwara indigenes in the diaspora to “come home and invest”, stressing

    that Kwara needs their talent, expertise and global experience. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and ex-KSANG President Alh. Lateef Amolegbe were also honoured.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ahmed to students: take part in voter registration

    Ahmed to students: take part in voter registration

    •Support for APC govt

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed urged students yesterday to participate in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration.

    The governor spoke in Ilorin when students under the auspices of National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) visited him in his office.

    He added that their active participation will ensure that they are not disenfranchised next year.

    The governor said his administration remains committed to the implementation of policies and programmes that would make the state more developed.

    He said the government initiated an entrepreneurship development programme to create job creators and employers of labour, rather than job seekers.

    NAKSS endorsed the educational and developmental programmes and policies of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    The students pledged their total support for the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.

    Led by their National Public Relations Officer, Obafemi Oyeniyi, they said in the last three years tertiary institutions have had infrastructural development, including the building of 10 new lecture halls at the State College of Education, Oro; building of an e-library at the State polytechnic, Ilorin and the 1,000 capacity auditorium at the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

    “Today, we have come in thousands to declare our total support  for APC because it is in you our problems of epileptic power supply will be solved, unemployment will go, corruption will end, rule of law  will become the order of the day and strike will end.”

     

  • Kwara spends N600m to rehabilitate hospitals

    Kwara spends N600m to rehabilitate hospitals

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the state has spent N600million to rehabilitate hospitals in Offa and Irepodun local government areas.

    He assured the people that implementation of projects in all sectors will not be influenced by political partisanship but equity and fairness.

    Ahmed, who spoke at the inauguration, promised to ensure healthcare delivery that is modern, affordable and accessible to the people.

    His words: “My administration’s strides in the health sector testify to our recognition of quality healthcare as a precondition for sustained human capital development.

    “We have demonstrated this commitment through the remodelling of Offa, Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals as well as the distribution of drugs and equipment to 13 general hospitals and 43 primary healthcare centres.”

    The governor restated his administration’s resolve to compliment its determination to build the state’s human capital development through functional education, entrepreneurship and access to quality healthcare.

    The governor called for greater synergy between the government and the communities in order to have a state built firmly “on the foundations of equity, justice and inclusive governance; that guarantees all citizens a chance to achieve their highest aspirations subject only to the limits of their capacities”.

    The Commissioner for Health, Kayode A. Issa, said the rehabilitated hospitals have locational value of serving as referral centres for  surrounding primary healthcare centres.

    This, according to him, will aid the attainment of the target of Millennium Development Goals.

     

    including the reduction of maternal mortality infectious diseases and child death.

     

  • Children’s Day: Ahmed, Saraki bemoan insecurity

    Children’s Day: Ahmed, Saraki bemoan insecurity

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged parents and guardians to show more commitment to the proper upbringing of their children and wards, especially in the face of prevailing security challenges in the country.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, advised the Federal Government and security agents to provide a safe home for the Nigerian child.

    Ahmed, in a statement yesterday in Ilorin by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, was commenting on this year’s Children Day celebration.

    The governor said Nigeria was passing through one of the most challenging and traumatic periods of its chequered political history.

    He decried the spate of bombings, kidnappings and other forms of crimes in the country.

    Ahmed said the society should ensure that the Nigerian child, especially the girl-child, lives peacefully to facilitate her for growth and well-being rather than under the present state of insecurity in the country.

    The governor admonished the Nigerian child to strive for excellence.

    He urged parents to instil religious and moral discipline in their wards so that they can be better members of the society.

    According to him, religious leaders need to pray for peace and harmony in the country so that the nation can achieve its full potential.

    Saraki stressed that “every child deserves a safe home”.

    The former governor urged all stakeholders to “use this occasion to show love and protect the children’s interest and invest in them towards the realisation of their full potentials”.

    He added: “As the senator representing Kwara Central, I pledge to continue to use my good office to advocate for the children’s welfare and contribute meaningfully to their growth and development in all ramifications.

    “This is the right time to honour our children, who deserve much more than what our country currently present to them.

    “In the past one month, our children have been the focal point of our collective struggle; to grant them freedom from the dens of their abductors and provide an enabling environment for them to become the future leaders of tomorrow. “

     

    “At the moment, their dreams are under severe threat unless we pull our acts together so that we can grow stronger and combine our strength to bring back these girls.

    “As parents, it is our responsibility to show them love always; to give them a sense of security that we can protect them and assure them that their well being means everything to us.

    “Nigerians and indeed the world will sincerely admit the pathetic disposition of our government to the rescue of these girls. Without regard to politics, creed or ethnicity, we must continue to give those in authority, our military, and all our security agencies our full support to #BringBackOurGirls and in return they must show commitment and sincerity.

    “I commend the unwavering efforts made so far by everyone in trying to locate the abducted children especially our military men.”

     

  • Ahmed wins award

    Ahmed wins award

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has won the 2014 edition of the Hall of Grace (HOG) Governor of the Year Award.

    The award certificate and plaque were presented to the governor by former Information Minister and Grand Custodian of the HOG Awards, Chief Alex Akinyele, at a ceremony held at the Summit Centre, Ikeja.

    Akinyele described the HOG Awards as “a huge platform upon which deserving Nigerians are celebrated”.

    Editor and Managing Custodian of the HOG Awards Rupert Ojenuwa said Ahmed won because of his exceptional focus on human capital development.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, the  Special Adviser on Communication Strategy, Abdulraheem Adedoyi, thanked the organisers for the honour.

     

  • Kwara Poly council chair dies at 70

    Kwara Poly council chair dies at 70

    The Chairman, Governing Council, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Prof Shehu Jimoh, is dead. Jimoh (70) has been buried according to Islamic rites.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed described the death as shocking and a loss to the state and the nation’s education sector.

    He said the deceased was one of the shining lights and a colossus in the education sector who contributed immensely to the education development of Nigeria for many decades.

     

  • Ahmed, Saraki confident of victory in 2015

    Ahmed, Saraki confident of victory in 2015

    KWARA State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and leader of the All Progressives in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki, have expressed optimism that the party will be victorious in the 2015 general elections in the country.

    They both spoke on Friday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the state APC congress.

    Ahmed said, “Good governance can only come to play when there is a good political system and a good political system can only come to play when we have good parties that allow for inclusiveness, demonstration of democratic process and most importantly, allow the fear of God to take control.

    “This singular demonstration will continue to drive good governance in Kwara State. I want to assure that we have taken a leap alongside other progressives in the country to show that Kwarans deserve the best.

    “We have once more come to show the world that Nigeria can indeed learn from what we have done today, if our affairs as a country can be carried on the way we have done here. Peacefully, under a platform of equity and justice, Nigeria will surely be a better place to be.”

    On his part, Saraki, who represents Kwara Central at the National Assembly, urged Kwarans not to be deceived by those whom he described as “unserious politicians that would only come around one year to every election.”

    He added, “I use today to talk to Kwarans not to let anybody deceive you. This is the party that will bring true development to the state. It is not a party of promises. It is only Kwarans that will repair Kwara. Abuja cannot come to Kwara. Abuja is too busy for Abuja’s problems. Kwarans will repair Kwara.

    “I remember when this journey started, a lot of people said the APC congress in Kwara State will be marred with a lot of crises; a lot of people said there will be no inclusion; that they cannot come together.

    “But today, we have a lot to thank God and be proud of ourselves in having a rancour-free congress. The real winners today are those of you that had to make personal sacrifices in the interest of the party.”

  • ‘Kwara PDP, a jester’

    ‘Kwara PDP, a jester’

    The Kwara State government has faulted the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is operating on a stolen mandate.

    In a statement by Ahmed’s Special Assistant on Information Deji Oni, the government called on the people to be vigilant as the PDP was out to provoke and incite them.

    Oni advised the PDP to put its house in order by addressing tons of protest letters from aggrieved members of the party, arising from its controversial marathon state congress held in the night.

    “On our part, we assure the people that the few but noisy political jobbers in the PDP will not succeed in distracting the government from fulfilling its electoral promises to the people.

    “Our human capital development and youth empowerment, massive infrastructure development and economic growth are on course. We are definitely fulfilling our mandate,” Oni said.