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Tag: AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • Kwara to establish export processing zone, says Gov Ahmed

    Kwara to establish export processing zone, says Gov Ahmed

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Tuesday said his government would soon establish an export processing zone in the state.

    Ahmed made this known on Tuesday in Ilorin while receiving management of the Bank of Industry (BOI) led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olukayode Pitan.

    According to him, the processing zone will encourage exportation of goods from the state and its neighbouring states to enhance its internal generated revenue and boost the state economic activities.

    Ahmed said that arrangement was on top gear to fast-track the development of the free trade zone in the state.

    “The state government has made initial submissions through the Bank of Industry.

    “I hope to follow it up in areas where the state will be able to create export processing zone through key anchor tenants which is already on ground,” he said.

    The governor, who highlighted the importance of the free trade zone, said that his government would spare no effort to ensure that the plan becomes a reality.

    Ahmed said that the zone would generate more job opportunities for the youth across the state as a result of economic activities from the zone.

    “The plan to have an export processing zone in the state is part of the government’s plan to turn around the socio-economic activities of the state,” he said.

    Ahmed solicited for further support from the BoI for upcoming entrepreneurs in the state.

    Earlier, Pitan praised the state government for its various supports to the Small and Medium Enterprises in the state.

    He said the Bank had more than N12 billion facilities in the state, explaining that N9 billion had been distributed to various companies in the state and promised to do more.

    Pitan called for more partnership with the state to boost the state economy for sustainable growth and development.

  • Unions commend Ahmed for offsetting salary arrears

    Unions commend Ahmed for offsetting salary arrears

    The Committee of Unions in  the Tertiary Institutions (CUTI) has commended Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara for offsetting salary arrears of tertiary institutions in the state.

    The union gave the commendation in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Abdulkareem Amuda on Thursday in Ilorin.

    Amuda gave the commendation on behalf of CUTI, comprises College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), College of Education Islamic Legal Studies Academic Staff Union (COLASU), Senior Staff Union (NASU) Kwara State Colleges of Education, Ilorin, Oro, Lafiagi, among others.

    “On behalf of our unions, I express our gratitude for the payment of outstanding salary arrears owed all the above mentioned tertiary institutions,” Amuda said.

    He said that the payment was a pointer toward the commitment of the state government to improve the education sector.

    The CUTI chairman said that the union would continue to motivate its members to discharge their duties diligently.

  • Kwara LG chairman pledges to prioritise staff welfare

    Mr. Abiodun Ajiboye, the newly sworn-in Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman for Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has promised to make staff welfare his priority.

    Ajiboye made the promise at the inauguration of the council’s TIC members at the council headquarters in Omu-Aran on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed had extended the tenure of the 16 TICs, with each made up of four members.

    Ajiboye said his administration would channel adequate resources toward improving the welfare of council workers through prompt payment of salaries and allowances.

    He expressed his administration’s commitment to promoting the state government’s rural integration drive as catalyst for socio-economic development at the grassroots.

    Ajiboye, who solicited the support of council workers and other stakeholders, pledged to run an open door administration that would facilitate the turning around of the council’s fortunes.

    He said: “I want to say that our efforts toward the transformation of this council remains a collective responsibility of every stakeholder.

    “We will give everybody, be it workers, politicians, traders and other stakeholders, equal opportunity to contribute toward the development of this council.

    “Ours will be an open door policy with adequate priority for the welfare of council workers and the generality of the people of the council,” he said.

    The chairman, however, urged the newly sworn-in officers to make honesty, transparency and accountability their watchwords.

    He solicited the cooperation of party leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in building a solid foundation for the next elected council administration.

    Ajiboye commended the governor and the state’s APC leader, Sen. Bukola Saraki, for the confidence reposed in the committee’s ability to turn the councils around.

    Chief Bisi Owolabi, the Chairman of the party in the local government area, urged the TIC members to see their appointments as a call to service.

    NAN reports that the inauguration was attended by party leaders and supporters across the 11 wards of the local government area.

    Those sworn-in were Adefila Olumide, Vice-Chairman, Adewoye Alarape, Supervisory Councillor for Works and Agriculture and Sherif Mohammed, Supervisory Councillor for Health and Education.

     

  • Lawmaker denies disbursement of N1bn agric loan to politicians

    Assemblyman Isiaku Aliyu-Adams, Chairman, Kwara House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, on Wednesday denied the speculations that the N1billion Agric Loan, which the state secured, had been disbursed to politicians.

    Aliyu-Adams told News Agency of Nigeria NAN) in llorin that the loan was never hijacked by politicians or given to “political farmers’’.

    NAN reports that the Kwara House of Assembly in January 2017 approved the request of Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed to obtain N1 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to boost agriculture in the state.

    NAN also reports that the since the approval of the loan, there has been speculations in many quarters that the loan would be disbursed to “political farmers’’, just like the previous ones.

    Aliyu-Adams said that genuine farmers in the state were free to contact the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce and Cooperatives and obtain application forms for funds from the loan.

    He described the rumour regarding the disbursement of the loan to “political farmers’’ as baseless and a calculated attempt to derail the good intentions of the state government.

    He stressed that agriculture remained the most viable option in the ongoing efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.

  • Kwara Govt. sets continental target for Falcons basketball team

    The Chief of Staff to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Alhaji Abdulwahab Babatunde, has said that the government would support its basketball club, Kwara Falcons, to play in the continental championship next season.

    Babatunde told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin that the players must give their all in every one of their games.

    According to him, it will be good for the players and the state in general, if the team gets a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    Babatunde said that his recent romance with the Kwara Falcons was meant to support the team because of the governor’s love for sports.

    “We are giving serious support to all sportsmen and women in the state. We are also working out plans for the special basketball players too.

    “We are working on how to get them wheelchairs to play with and other equipment,” the governor’s aide said.

    Babatunde said that as part of the government’s target for a continental ticket, the Indoor Hall of the state’s stadium complex would be remodeled to international standard.

     

     

  • Gov. Ahmed flags off N1.5bn varsity project

    Gov. Ahmed flags off N1.5bn varsity project

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Wednesday  flagged-off  the construction of the  N1.5 billion College of Social Science and Environmental Studies  building at Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor  said in Osi that the  project was in keeping with the multi-campus model of Kwara State University, Malete.

    He said the project was also informed by the need to explore opportunities in the education sector as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development, especially at the grassroots.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Osi campus project was expected to be completed within 52 weeks.

    NAN also reports that the project in Osi  marked  the third phase of the multi- campus project initiated by the government.

    The government had earlier flagged-off the Post Graduate Studies Centre of the School of Business and Governance of the university in Ilorin as well as  the Ilesha-Baruba campus in Baruten Local Government Area.

    Ahmed said the projects were an eloquent testimony that the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) introduced by his administration had strengthened the capacity of government in meeting its obligations.

    “This project, no doubt, will go a long way to improve the standard and quality of education as regards research and human capital development within the targeted communities.

    “It will, as well, impact positively on the socio-economic development and well-being of the people of the communities,” he said.

    Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah, the Vice-Chancellor of  Kwara State University,  said the institution would continue to be in  the forefront of exploring new ideas and cutting-edge research findings to impact on humanity.

    He said the global concern on climate change, air and water quality, clean environment and natural resources management were major concerns of  the global community.

    Na’allah said the Osi campus of the university, when completed, would host a world-class College of Environmental Sciences, with departments such as Environmental Management and Toxicology.

    Others are Plant Environment, Biology, Urban and Regional Planning, Geographic Information Science, Survey and Informatics and Fine Arts.

    Dr Amina Ahmed, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education,  Science and Technology, listed the project segments for execution to include school administrative block, lecture hall and theatre, students’ hostels and staff quarters.

    The Olosi of Osi, Oba Solihu Adasofegbe, and Joseph Ajayi, the council Chairman, in their remarks, urged the people to take advantage of the location of the project to improve their education and socio-economic wellbeing.

    Mr Tunji Folaranmi, the Director of Project, Unicontinental International Ltd., the firm handling the project, promised to complete the project as scheduled.

  • Kwara International Vocational Centre gets equipment

    The Kwara Government has taken delivery of equipment and training tools purchased for the various workshops at the International Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo, in Irepodun Local Government Area.

    Alhaji Musa Yeketi, Kwara Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, while speaking during the inspection of the equipment on Wednesday Ajase-Ipo, said the machines and training tools are for the five departments of the College.

    He listed the Departments to include Automotive, Masonry and Carpentry, Electrical and Electronics, Welding, as well as Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning.

    Yeketi noted that 95 per cent of the equipment have been delivered to the institution and that the remaining ones will be delivered in few days.

    He added that with the arrival of equipment, the Centre is ready to take off.

    The Chairman of IVTEC Board, Prof. Abiodun Adimula, while fielding questions from journalists said he was satisfied with the quality of equipment purchased for the institution.

    He expressed confidence that academic activities will commence at IVTEC in September.

    Adimula stated that in the next few years, the College is expected to produce highly skilled middle-level manpower and commended the State government for its huge investment in the College.

    According to him, the vocational center will help reduce crime rate in the State as the government has provided opportunity for youths to develop themselves and acquire market relevant skills that will make them productive.

    He also disclosed that the College management was working toward creating synergy with tertiary institutions in Kwara such as the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Kwara Polytechnic and technical schools within the State

    Adimula said that IVTEC will also be a good training ground for students of tertiary institutions to undergo their SIWES programme and acquire relevant skills.

    He noted that most universities in the country cannot boast of the facilities available at IVTEC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall that Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed in March approved the release of N143 million for the procurement of modern vocational equipment for IVTEC in preparation for the commencement of the centre.

     

  • Governor’s wife tasks women on medical checkup

    Governor’s wife tasks women on medical checkup

    Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, wife of Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, on Wednesday urged women to go for regular medical checkup for early detection of diseases, especially cancer.

    Ahmed made the call during her tour of the Life Empowers Anchors Hope (LEAH) Cancer Centres in Lafiagi and Offa.

    The governor’s wife, also founder of LEAH Foundation, said that women should prioritise their health above other things to avoid jeopardising their future.

    Ahmed said that she would upgrade the cancer centres and provide Colposcopy (a procedure to closely examine your cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of disease.)

    “I am here to see how we can encourage women to patronise these centres and to also come for cancer screening.

    “We are particular about community participation.

    “I promise to install solar energy as alternative power at the centres and community health workers will be trained to man them,”the founder of LEAH said.

    She appealed to the media to give prominence to news about the cancer, especially as it affects women.

    Earlier, at the palace of Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Kawu Haliru, Ahmed, urged well-to-do individuals to support the foundation’s effort in fighting cancer.

    “This tour is to assess and upgrade facilities at the cancer centres and train staff,’’ she said at the General Hospital, Offa.

    Ahmed said that the foundation had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Ilorin to include cervical cancer screening in its regular admission package.

    In his remarks, Dr Abdulwasiu Giwa, the Chief Medical Director, General Hospital, Offa, said that Ahmed’s visit was timely as cancer cases were on the increase.

    “Earlier today, we lost a patient with cancer of the liver,’’ Giwa told the governor’s wife.

    He advised the people to come and screen themselves for cancer, saying that cancer was preventable, if detected early.

  • Gov. Ahmed launches N907m KWASU new campus

    Gov. Ahmed launches N907m KWASU new campus

    Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has launched the Ilesha-Baruba, Baruten local government area campus of the College of Agriculture of the Kwara state University (KWASU).

    The project will cost  a sum of N907 million.

    Ahmed explained that the siting of the college in the area was strategic to its agricultural practices especially in the area of livestock and crop farming.

    The governor said the agrarian nature of the area will provide students the opportunity to gain more insight into agriculture.

    He added that “as we are battling the issues relating to food insecurity and unemployment, it is important we provide cutting edge education to ensure we produce knowledgeable young commercial farmers and professionals as well as to provide all private sectors with required research for innovation and growth.

    “Specifically, the institution will also equip the agricultural sector with the knowledge, tools; wealth for farmers, input for industries and food security for all.

    “Having moved away from the sustenance and social service agriculture to more market driven approach, agric business is more than ever knowledge based and technology dependant”, he said.

    The governor asserted that agricultural sector has the potential to curb unemployment, build growth and create food security.

    “Based on this recognition, we have put in place strategy to promote agriculture business in Kwara state.

    “Our Offtaker demand driven agric scheme and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) have provided farmers opportunity to access capital, tools and expertise for their businesses at affordable rates.”

    He pledged his administration’s continued provision of incentives to enhance ability of farmers to compete at production market and increase their earnings.

    Said he: “However, this can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and security.

    “It is for this reason and the need to uphold the security of all residents and citizens that I’m really disturbed by the recent clash between farmers and herdsmen locally and across the state.

    “Let me assure you that my administration in partnership with security agencies will soon unveil new measures to eliminate these clashes across the state.

    “In the interim, I call on everyone, who feel aggrieved or that have suffered losses on account of such clashes to exercise patience and refrain from act of criminality while allowing the rule of law to take its due course”, he said.

    Earlier in her address, Hajia Aminat Ahmed, the state’s Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology explained that the reason for siting the campus in Ilesha-Baruba was resolved towards ensuring that Kwara produces the next generation of agricultural enterpreneurs, who would continue the agrarian revolution.

    She said that the project awarded to Unicontinental Engineering International Company Limited had a timeframe of 48 weeks.

  • Kwara assembly calls for resuscitation of sports in schools

    The Kwara House of Assembly on Wednesday called for the resuscitation of sporting activities in all primary and secondary schools in the state.

    The legislators made the call after a deliberation on poor sporting activities in some primary and secondary schools in the 16 local government areas of the state.

    The motion without notice was moved by the House Leader, Mr. Hassan Oyeleke, under “Matters of Urgent Public Importance’’.

    Oyeleke, in his submission, said that educational success should not only be based on the certificates alone, but the overall development of human beings.

    He said that incorporating sports in schools’ curriculum would go a long way in discovering talents.

    The Deputy Speaker, Mr. Mathew Okedare, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, urged the state Ministry of Education to include sports in schools’ curriculum.

    Also during Wednesday’s plenary, a bill to amend the law setting up Abubakar Sola Saraki University passed first reading.

    Motion for the first reading of the bill was moved by Oyeleke.

    The bill, which was sent to the House by Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed, sought to add a representative of the state Attorney-General to the Governing Council of the university.

    Okedare referred the bill to the House Committee on Rules and Business to slate it for second reading at the appropriate time.