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Tag: Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • Ahmed signs N130b ‘budget of expansion’

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday signed into law an Appropriation Bill of N130,262,850,907.

    The governor said the budget would provide new vistas for confronting developmental challenges in the state.

    Ahmed said the Budget of expansion for inclusive prosperity provides “a blueprint for major projects, to put more money in people’s pockets, get more youths into work, remodel additional hospitals and build more schools and roads”.

    The governor praised the legislature for increasing the budget by five per cent from N124,525,957,133 to N130,262,850,907.

    He said the increase accommodates “the delays in securing the proposed N30billion bond and an internal term loan of N5billion for social-economic capital projects”.

    “The bonds and other measures in the budget will enable the administration generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, significantly transform our state and create new windows of economic opportunities for entrepreneurship,” Ahmed said.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rasaq Atunwa, said the budget was prepared in line with international best practices in accounting procedure.

    “No doubt, this budget will enable Kwarans and lovers of Kwara to witness another year of upgrading general infrastructure that would sufficiently attract and further encourage private sector-led growth and development of the state.

    “Kwara State has keyed into the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which is anchored on transparency and accountability in governance,” he said.

    Atunwa urged the governor to ensure the budget’s implementation, especially in the area of youth employment and empowerment.

  • Kwara needs N300b, says Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdufatah Ahmed said yesterday that the state needs over N300 billion to bring infrastructural development to an acceptable standard.

    He said the state had approached the capital market to raise N300 billion to support needs, such as electricity, water, energy, education and security.

    Ahmed spoke on the monthly programme, “The Governor Explains.”

    He said the state would set up a development fund to finance its infrastructural development.

    Ahmed said: “We are empowering 8,000 youths this year, but starting with 5,000.

    “Some will be engaged in entrepreneurship training in partnership with the State University and Polytechnic. During the training programme, they will be paid salaries.

    “After those skills, we will now bring them together into cooperatives and give them money to start their own businesses.

    “Some of them will be engaged in the ‘clean and green’ programme; some of them will be involved in what we call public works and we will be paying them salaries.

    “Some of them will also be posted to the private sector. We are going to expand the State Bridge Employment Scheme (KWABES), accommodate more people, pay them salaries and also get them to areas where they will be needed.”

  • Group hails Saraki’s defection

    Group hails Saraki’s defection

    A group known as Ilorin Elders Forum yesterday described the defection of Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki as a step in the right direction.

    The group lampooned Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark on his recent outbursts on Senator Saraki.

    Spokesperson for the group and the Magaji Nda of Ilorin Soliu W. Mohammed said: “It is apparent that this was the right step taken by those who abandoned the drifty Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Their action is, therefore, wise and commendable. It has become apparent that the problems that engulfed the PDP are traceable to lack of internal democracy, high-handedness and arrogance by the high command of the party.”

  • Ahmed seeks devolution of powers

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed yesterday added his voice to the clamour for the devolution of powers to local councils.

    Ahmed spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, at the inauguration of the newly-elected 15 council chairmen in the state.

    He urged the “Federal Government to cede the responsibilities and resources for such critical sectors as agriculture, water supply, health, road construction and the environment to states and local governments.”

    The governor added that the “local councils are closer to the people and uniquely positioned to promote their well being.

    He said: “Having secured the mandate of the people, you have to justify the confidence reposed in you by providing transformational leadership.

    “I also dmonish you to make the people the corner-stone of your administration.”

    Ahmed also launched the “Operation Harmony Security Outfit,” which is a synergy among Joint Patrol Team (JPT), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other security outfits.

    The governor handed over 15 Toyota Hilux 2×4 Pick-up Vans to members of the team.

    “Let me start by paying homage to the officers and men of our security agencies for their gallant roles in keeping our streets safe, our homes secure and our neighbourhoods protected.

    “More often than not, the scale of the security challenges with which we are confronted dwarfs the noble effort of these brave men and women.

    “In our continued efforts to build a safe and secure society, we must always acknowledge and applaud the valiant works of the officers and men of Nigeria’s security agencies to encourage them to do more.”

  • Abdulfatah lays foundation for world-class skill Centre

    Abdulfatah lays foundation for world-class skill Centre

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has laid the foundation of one of the best vocational centres in the country.
    The centre, located in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, is expected to train youths that would be marketable and employable within and outside the country.
    Also, graduates of the centre would assist the government in addressing the current gap in the building industry for competent and trained artisans, the governor said.
    Ahmed explained that his administration placed high premium on youth empowerment through job creation because of the recognition that youths constitutes 70 per cent of the state population and “are significant agents of positive change, if properly harnessed. Any serious effort to transform the lives of our people must therefore incorporate youth economic empowerment.”
    He emphasised that the education reform agenda embarked upon by his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki was still on course, pledging to continue to use education to add value to the lives of the youths and unemployed graduates in the state by turning them into job creators rather than job seekers.
    He said this would be vigorously pursued through his government’s numerous human capital development strategies.
    The governor added: “I am therefore pleased to be part of history today as we take another firm step towards transforming our youths into successful economic actors with the foundation-laying of the international vocational centre.
    “Today’s ceremony testifies to my administration’s strong resolve to create a new generation of highly-employable artisans and prosperous youth entrepreneurs through the provision of market-relevant skills under our Shared prosperity programme.
    “At the end of the training period, successful students will be awarded globally-recognised certificates and diplomas moderated by the London-based City and Guilds. Towards this end, curriculum for the centre has been structured to address the need to meet not only international standards but also industry and business needs.”
    Ahmed added that the state government had brokered job opportunities for about 10,000 Kwarans from the federal government.
    He said that the state had also provided jobs for not less than 2000 youth as wells as absorbed 1,430 into its civil service.
    Earlier, the state Education and Human Capital Development Commissioner, Alhaji Saka Onimago said the foundation-laying today “is not just for the vocation center, but also for a better and improved Kwara.
    “This is where our youths will acquire skills to be self-reliant, independent and be supportive in moving the state forward. They will not only be employable but marketable anywhere in the world. Graduates of international vocational centre will be adequately equipped to compete with their counterparts in Korea, China and other developed countries of the world. This is in line with your vision of shared prosperity.
    Onimago added that: “The world as a global village is electronically driven. Our mechanics, artisans and technicians have to adopt more techniques and training if they want to remain relevant within this dynamic world. This is what international vocational centre is all about.
    “The policy thrust is also targeted at the existing vocational centres to improve on their training procedures so that competent skilled artisans whose services will be desired anywhere in the world can be produced. The state is prepared to reduce unemployment of our youths. This government does not want our youths to be instruments of violence and other social vices. This administration is doing all within its capacity to support our youth to be gainfully employed.”
    In a remark, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Sikiru Atanda who spoke through one of the elders of the town, Rasak Alabi said when the centre becomes fully operation it impact positively on the commercial and social lives of the people of the community.
    Oba Atanda added that “more jobs will be created and more accommodation will be required and of course, new settlement will spring up around this axis to accommodate the attendant rise in population.”
    He added that hitherto, many had doubted the sincerity of government on the project, adding that “cynics had field day telling those who cared to listen that it was just one of those political promises which government has no intention to fulfil. Our anxiety was growing by the day.
    “However, our gathering here today has at last demonstrated once again that this administration which is a continuity of the previous one is one that keeps its promises one made.”