The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • ‘Merger’ll boost development’

    ‘Merger’ll boost development’

    A group, Kwara Coalition for Positive Change (KCPC), yesterday said the merger of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in Kwara State will enhance the state’s development.

    A statement by KCPC leaders, Idera Jimoh, Mohammed Sha’aba Patigi and Lamidi Okiki Sanni, welcomed “all members of the nPDP under the leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki and their supporters to APC.

    “We pray that the togetherness will not only consolidate the APC in Kwara State but will further enhance the development of the state.

    “We also appreciate the APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, for coming home to appraise the political situation of the merging parties.

    “His explanation had diffused all dissenting speculations that were intended to cause disaffection among willing and committed members of the APC.”

    An aide of former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje has said the merger would create a deviation from “the current situation where only one party has continued to dominate the polity through monopoly.”

    Dauda Simon said the defection will make the country a two-party state and help create a comfortable free environment synonymous with healthy democratic system.”

  • Tackle youth unemployment, say Ahmed, Saraki

    Tackle youth unemployment, say Ahmed, Saraki

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment.

    Both vowed to, in the next four weeks, provide no less than 5,000 jobs.

    They said: “It is time the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on youth unemployment, just as we have declared a state of emergency on power and security.

    “We must find a lasting solution to this problem; it cannot be immediate, but we can start a process that will give the youth hope.”

    The duo spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, at a technical summit for unemployed youths, organised by the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Constituency Office.

    The theme of the summit was “Youth unemployment in Kwara State: The way forward”.

    Ahmed said: “For us in Kwara State, the solution to this social challenge is two-pronged. First, we are creating a new crop of youth entrepreneurs through capacity building and access to affordable micro-credit funds on the platform of cooperatives.

    “Second, in line with Dr. Saraki’s vision for agro-led prosperity in Kwara State, we are assertively promoting youth involvement in agribusiness through targeted training, access to funding and mentorship.

    “I, therefore, call on youths to take up entrepreneurship by leveraging on the spaces created by government in the informal sector and in agribusiness.

    “To own a successful business is as lucrative as it is liberating. It frees you from the dangers of placing your ladder on someone else’s wall, thus making you the architect of your prosperity.”

    Saraki said: “Individuals cannot do it all, you must be ready to seize the opportunity, you must be committed and you must be serious and see it as a journey to success.

    “My hope and dream is that from our discussions, we will find a lasting solution that will provide jobs for over 5,000 people immediately. This will include both entrepreneurship schemes largely and regular white collar jobs.

    “The entrepreneurship schemes will provide take off grants. I will seek the governor’s partnership in coming up with a solution. My idea is we spend the next four weeks reviewing recommendations and putting together a roadmap.”

  • Oliha buried, Edo, Kwara donate N3m

    Oliha buried, Edo, Kwara donate N3m

    Eguavoen Urges Jonathan to Redeem House Pledge

    The body of late Thompson Oliha was finally laid to rest at his no. 3 Thompson Oliha Crescent off Edo Street, Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City at about 1.30pm yesterday.

    Memorial match was played in his honour by his colleagues led by Austin Eguavoen at the lying- in state at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    The match which was played by Edo selected and some members of the 94 squad ended 1-1 apiece.

    Also in memory of his last place of work, the 94 squad and some ex internationals were on Kwara football academy jersey while Edo selected were on Insurance Jersey.

    In a short remark, Comrade Adams Oshiomole of Edo State said the death of Oliha was such a big loss to the people of Edo state and Nigeria in general.

    The governor who spoke through the commissioner for youths and sports, Lady Omorede Osifo said that the State will be organizing a yearly Youths football championship, to be called Thompson Oliha Soccer Championship.

    The governor also donated 2million to the two kids of Oliha and personally appealed to the family to come to the government house on Monday with the kids where he will present the cheque to them.

    On the part of Kwara state governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed made a donation of 1million to the kids.

    In his speech made by the Kwara State director of sports Mallam Tunde Kazeem expressed the feelings of the government and people of Kwara State over the death of Thompson Oliha.

    He condoled the government and people of Edo State, especially the Oliha Family adding that Thompson Oliha was a dedicated and loyal employee of the state government who will be missed by all.

    On her part, Perpetua Clement, the admin manager, Kwara football academy described him as a hard working gem.

    Nigeria Football Federation represented by Barr. Leye Adepoju and Dr. Chris Emeruwa in their own speech said Thompson Oliha was a loyal, dedicated and respected player in his day at the national team.

    They therefore urged the current players in the Super Eagles to learn and emulate the loyalty and dedication of the LATE Thompson Oliha when he played for the senior National Team.

    Austin Eguaveon who led the likes of Ben Iroha, Alloy Agu, Emeka Ezeogu and others said that it is regrettable that up till now the 23 of the 94 squad who chose Lagos for their house promises up till now are yet to get their promises from the Federal Government even when the 9 others had already received theirs in Abuja.

    Eguaveon further said that he believed that one day the president, Jonathan Goodluck will have the wisdom of God to redeem their image in the eyes of the world.

    Immediately the Nigerian Flag and a football that carried the autograph of some of the 94 squad was presented to the son of Thompson Oliha, Jesus Asosa Oliha by the Edo State commissioner for sports Omorede Osifo, the little Oliha however reiterated his commitment to follow his fathers footsteps.

    Little Oliha who is in basic four at the high bridge school Lagos said he is already captaining the junior team of the school.

    He said he hopes that someday he will wear the green white green.

     

     

  • Ahmed inspects projects

    Ahmed inspects projects

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has embarked on an inspection tour of projects which were initiated by him or by his predecessor.

    The tour was informed by the need to ensure that projects are executed according to specifications.

    Some of the projects inspected included the General Hospitals, Ilorin, Offa and Omu-Aran which are undergoing rehabilitation. Others are Amberi Water Booster Station, Erin-Ile-Ilemona Road and Irra Road, all in Kwara South Senatorial District.

    During the tour, he warned that contractors handling various state-owned projects should expedite action on them to ensure that they are completed on schedule, even as he said contractors who carry out shoddy jobs or finish behind schedule would have such contracts revoked.

    Ahmed said: ”At the beginning of every financial year, we have a budget which is an articulation of programmes that we intend to spend the people’s money on. Once these projects have been given out to contractors, they need to be taken to completion. We want to be sure that works are carried out the way they have been idealised for implementation.

    “On the strength of that, once projects are ongoing, there is a strong project monitoring team, a special adviser on infrastructure who also doubles as check and balance on developmental projects. We also need to see for ourselves the extent of progress made on such projects to ensure that we get value for our money.

    “That is what informed our recent visits to various projects that are ongoing to ensure that we get value for our money. Anywhere we go to, we expect that contractors should have gotten the job to a certain level to which we have funded them.

    “So far, we are happy with what we have seen. Our contractors are working accordingly and anywhere we expect to see things and they fall below our expectations, the contractor will be given a marching order.

    “The [new projects] we have inspected now are works that have been encapsulated into the budget. In other words, we have clearly outlined what we intend to do with the peoples’ money. Other projects like roads, water, energy, schools and health that are yet to start will be carried out as encapsulated in the budget.

    “We will ensure that these projects are carried out once the funds are available. We have the responsibility of working within the limited resources that we have. We are one of the states that receive the lowest in terms of revenue allocation from the Federal Government. Also, our revenue base is not very strong in terms of internally-generated revenue. This is largely because we have a public sector- driven environment.

    “We are just trying to create an enabling environment to bring in the private sector to drive the system and create additional taxable environment that will increase the taxes and generate more revenue so that we can do more projects for the people.

    “We also expect to see improvement in our health sector because a healthy society is a wealthy society. We must see, as part of our human capital development, a very strong healthcare delivery system put in place.

    “That is why we pursued the renovation of hospitals. Primary health, secondary and tertiary health institutions are being equipped with the human and material resources that will give us the necessary platform for a proper healthcare delivery system. These are all geared towards ensuring that we have a strong economic environment.

    “Education is not left out. Over 200 classrooms would soon be renovated at the basic and secondary levels to create additional infrastructure for our students. Additional textbooks and laboratory equipment would be supplied to schools and mega schools will be constructed.

    “These schools will create platforms to accommodate neighbouring schools in terms of infrastructure like laboratories and other training equipment for students.”