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Tag: kwara

  • MPPP promises new dawn in Kwara politics

    Kwara State Chairman of Mega Progressives People Party (MPPP), Sheikh Abd Akeem Opeloyeru has promised a new dawn in the politics of the State.

    He said this while addressing party supporters after the state exco meeting in Ilorin, the state capital over the weekend.

    Opeloyeru said days of politics as usual is over whilst reiterating that MPPP “believes in the tenet of democracy and with it grassroot strength spread across the State.

    MPPP party boss who was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the statea ssured that the party “stands as a formidable party and a party to watch out for in 2015.”

    He said MPPP was ready to wrestle power from the incumbent come 2015 and ensure that credible candidates that have the interest of the people in mind are elected into public office.

  • Kwara farmers get N214m loan

    Kwara farmers get N214m loan

    The Kwara State government has disbursed N214, 709,490 to no fewer than 172 farmers in loans to boost their farming in the state.
    The aim is to strengthen agri-business and enhance the welfare of the people. Governonor Abdulfatah Ahmed said this in Ilorin, the state capital, during the disbursement of the funds.
    “Our 172 lead farmers are at the core of our model of 10 out-grower farmers per local government  who, having demonstrated their capacity for agribusiness and whose farms have been verified, are receiving funds to expand their businesses,” teh governor said.
    “The Off-taker Demand Driven Scheme ensures farmers growth by creating partnerships with large farming concerns that will guarantee a steady demand for crops planted by the lead Farmers even before they are harvested.
    Speaking further, Abdulfatah said, “Each of these farmers is attached to an off-taker commercial farming concern with which they have signed memoranda of understanding to ensure a ready market for their produce.
    “These funds are therefore provided to enhance the capacity of these lead farmers to expand their businesses to meet their obligations to the off-taker farmers under the MOU arrangement while significantly boosting their earnings.
    “This administration’s approach to agriculture views it as a business that requires meticulous planning especially through facilitating private sector investment along the value chain of crops in which we have comparative advantage.
    “About eight years ago, the benefits of this approach were demonstrated when we initiated bold commercial agriculture reform in the state with the establishment of Shonga Farms.
    “In the process, we have not only put our state on the global map, but also started a gradual transformation in the nation’s agricultural sector with 13 pioneering Zimbabwean farmers as the nucleus of our plans to supplant subsistence farming with planned agribusiness.”
    The governor admitted that the journey has been challenging, but that the determination of his team has kept them going.

    He said: “As we empower a new set of commercial farmers using the lessons learnt from that experience, the business case for that innovative intervention by the previous administration in the state remains as strong as it was eight years ago.”
    Governor Ahmed added that: “Our aim is to extend agribusiness to other parts of the state by empowering a new generation of commercial farmers to ensure our people are food secure while establishing agribusiness as the pivot of our economy and regenerate agro-allied industrial development.
    “You are expected to be change agents that will train the next generation of commercial farmers in the state in your various communities. I urge you to judiciously apply the funds that have been made available to you and contribute towards establishing agriculture as the pivot of our economic prosperity.
    “Let me remind you that this programme is semi-cashless. To avoid the lapses of previous interventions in the country, only a small proportion of the funds are provided to the farmers in the form of cash.
    “The rest will be paid directly to identified suppliers who will then provide goods and services such as farm inputs, chemicals, equipment, extension and other services to the farmers when and where required.
    “The benefits of this approach are numerous. Apart from reducing leakages and ensuring proper utilisation of funds, the off taker- demand driven approach enables farmers to make concrete plans for their businesses by creating a ready market for their produce.
    “With this approach, the problems of post-harvest loss or wastage will be minimized if not eradicated as the farmers have concrete arrangements to sell their produce.
    “The approach also expands the opportunities along the crop value chain such as storage, processing, packaging, haulage, marketing and distribution leading to the creation of allied business opportunities and jobs for our youths.
    “Finally, the process is transparent because it allows the farmers to promptly repay the loan as the funds and the farmers’ proceeds are channelled through the same bank.
    It is my hope that the success of this scheme will translate into greater prosperity for the farmers, our state and its people, thereby attracting others into agribusiness, especially our youths.”

  • ‘PDP has no future in Kwara’

    ‘PDP has no future in Kwara’

    Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretary Prince Yemi Afolayan spoke on the Ahmed Administration, the activities of the party and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s struggle for relevance in the state. ADEKUNLE JIMOH met him.

    There were allegations that can-didates were imposed during the recent APC ward, local government and state congress. What is your reaction?

    I feel sorry for those who made that allegation. If they follow the political history of Kwara State, they would know that those of us who moved with our leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have moved with the election winning machinery that we inherited from the late Dr Olusola Saraki.

    And when we moved to the APC, we moved with 193 councillors, elected 16 local government council chairmen, 22 members of the House of Assembly, all state, local government and ward executives. By the time we left the PDP there, was none left. For anybody to get up and say party executives were imposed in APC, the person has just woken up from the wrong side of the bed. In any case, who has complained? People at the venue of the congress saw genuine joy on the faces of the delegates that came and there was a loud ovation. So, there is nothing like imposition.

    How will the APC react to the zoning of the governorship from Kwara Central to another zone in 2015?

    The PDP, as far as we are concerned, is a finished party. When we moved, there was nothing left and, because there was no person of substance that was left, that was why they went and brought one Solomon Edojah to come and steer the ship of what was left in the PDP. Then, if there was anybody left, they could have picked that person. Then, the PDP started groping its way in darkness. That also snowballed when President Goodluck Jonathan came to Kwara. The national headquarters of the PDP did not know they did not have anybody. They even went ahead calling our telephone numbers as if we were still with them. They called several times; the National Women Leader of PDP called the state women leader, who moved to the APC to help organise people to take Ankara for them, not knowing that there was nobody of substance left. They came to Kwara disappointed and that informed their decision to hire people, Jews and Gentiles from neighbouring states, to fill the Metropolitan Park, just to receive President Jonathan. Today, as I tell you, anywhere they pick their candidate from, certainly, they have lost Kwara.

    For instance, our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, in his normal routine visit not too long ago on a weekend, was received by a huge crowd. He had to trek from the airport to the Emir’s palace. This is somebody that has the control of the party, the people and government. When the PDP says it is picking its governorship candidate from the Central for one particular reason or the other, it shows that it is living in a fool’s paradise.

    In 2011, two governorship candidates came from the Central; Senator Gbemisola Saraki of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). At that time, our leaders picked Abdulfatah Ahmed from Kwara South and won with landslide victory. So, I don’t see any reason why anybody should lose sleep on the PDP picking candidates from anywhere, even when the PDP leaders are in disarray.

    Are you saying that Ilorin people will not vote for one of them, if a party decides pick its governorship candidate from there?

    What we are saying is that there is loyalty to Senator Bukola Saraki; there is loyalty to the APC in Kwara Central. Come rain, come sunshine, the people will vote for the party of their choice, which is the APC that is doing wonderfully well in the state. Because the APC is in government now, it is in charge and control and the people love what the government is doing. It is not a question of whether Ilorin people love or hate their own. What goes around comes around.

    But, the PDP claims that Governor Ahmed has underperformed..

     I like that word “claim” because it is very difficult to wake up somebody who is not sleeping. The PDP chieftains claiming that Governor Ahmed is not performing are either blind or they cannot hear. Otherwise, they would have seen that the governor has built on the performance of his predecessor and the unprecedented development going in every senatorial district is unequalled to any they could think about. If they say that he is not performing, it is giving a dog bad name so as to hang it.

    Abdulfatah Ahmed has renovated the General Hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, Kaiama and Share. Apart from that, there are several basic health centres across the state that have been massively renovated and equipped.In the education sector, over 450 classrooms have been built and renovated by Governor Ahmed and the opening of rural roads is there. There is the supply of transformers across the state. 70 percent of the communities now enjpoy electricity. The PDP chieftains are talking with their tongues in the cheek.

    Some people in the PDP have said that Dr. Saraki won the previous elections because of the support of the Federal Government and that the situation will change next year…

    When they talk of the federal might, it amuses me because anybody who hasn’t got the people cannot get votes. The Abuja people are not coming to Kwara to vote. They are talking about the Federal Government bringing finances. Look at the Federal Government that is corruption-ridden. Some of its ministers are enmeshed in one corrupt case or the other and the government has lost credibility. You are talking about the federal might, a government that has no shame, a government that is sitting down doing nothing and secondary school girls are being abducted by the Islamist sect, the Boko Haram. A government that has no sense of security. Is it the government that will come to us in Kwara where there is peace and harmony? They can’t disturb the peace of Kwara. Even, when they come with political gangsterism, we will not allow that to happen. The Federal might has nothing to do with the election when people come out to vote for who they want. The PDP that is talking about the federal might is still living in yesteryears.

    Is the APC not threatened by the decision of three former governorship candidates and a billionaire businesswoman, who is very close to the Presidency, to fight it at the poll?

    I like that combination. It is an amalgam of people who are failures. The billionaire you have just mentioned does not even know where Marafa-Pepele is talking about politics of Kwara. This is somebody who is completely out of touch with the state.

    A business person invests his money where it will yield returns. I am made to understand that that business person has invested so much that, even for the presidential rally they did in Kwara, the party is yet to pay her back. So, would she now put her money into bottomless pit? Anybody who spends his money on the PDP in Kwara is putting his money on bottomless pit and will never have a reward. So, we are not threatened. Who are the governorship candidates? Gbemisola Saraki, Mohammed Dele Belgore and Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq. All of them put together have failed before and they will fail again.

    What is the plan of the APC for Kwara in 2015?

    TheAPC government will be a continuation of the foundation of development that was laid by Senator Bukola Saraki. Before 2003, the state used to be a civil service state. But, since the advent of Dr Bukola Saraki’s governorship endeavour, the state has changed.  The state has now become the commercial nerve centre of the North Central geo-political zone. People are coming to Kwara because it is a state of harmony. The commercial life is springing up every day and job opportunities now abound. In 2015, the government of the APC will make life more abundantly meaningful to Kwarans.

    Critics have also said that the Saraki dynasty is fond of fielding candidates who are not popular in their domain…

     The Saraki dynasty does not have penchant for picking politicians who are not popular in their areas. The first qualification, second and third in politics is loyalty.

    What happened to Senator Simeon Ajibola, who is described by some people as a sleeping senator, was because of his loyalty to Oloye, not because he was popular or better. For the insignificant people we left in the PDP, actually, we have not lost anything. Some of them have been coming back and we accept them because, when they go, we don’t feel it. When we left, the national headquarters of the PDP felt it as the house became empty in Ilorin. Then, they went and took an office in Zango area of the town. If you know the history of the building, nobody has ever occupied it and did well. Even, a good restaurant was put there and it failed. They have failed by picking an office that is synonymous with failure. The APC is comfortable. We are on course. Nobody died during our congresses as we don’t believe in political rascality

     

  • Kwara needs N300b for projects, says Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at the weekend said the state needs a N300 billion for the execution of capital projects.

    He said this informed his administration’s decision to approach the capital market to raise N23 billion.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the  move, saying it was a way to impoverish the people.

    Ahmed spoke in Ilorin in his monthly radio and television programme dubbed “Governor Explain”, adding that the monthly allocation from the Federation Account could only cater for the state’s recurrent expenditure.

    He said any government desirous of making life meaningful for its people would have to borrow to carry out capital projects.

    His words: “As I have always said, infrastructure is something that we have not been doing in the past and this has resulted in the decay which we have recorded.

    “What I mean by the past is 20 to 30 years ago; we have been building roads, constructing bridges, culverts but we have not been maintaining them.

    “In the process, we find out that they get spoilt and you have to start all over again.

    “When I look at infrastructural requirements that the state needs, I found out that there is a huge gap and to put those things in place, it would cost us about N300billion.

    “And given the way things are, we know that we cannot raise N300billion but as a government that has a life span, we must see how much of the fund we can raise.

    “And where are the sources of funding? Of course, we know that we get the monthly Federal Allocation from where we pay salaries and carry out other recurrent expenditure.

    “Is it enough for us to carry out capital project? Obviously it is not. It means that we have to look at other sources of fund that will enable us do our own portion  and then we expect that successive governments will continue from where we stopped.

    “For us the capital market is the cheapest source of fund for government. Those who don’t know will exhibit ignorance by saying that government is going to borrow money to execute projects.

    “How do you want to execute projects without borrowing? I don’t know how, even the Federal Government as it is today use its Treasury Bill.

    “It is a cheaper source of funding because the interest rates are lower than when you borrow from commercial banks.

    “I have heard a few people saying Kwara is taking a bond to impoverish the people. You demonstrate ignorance if you say that taking up a bond to execute well-articulated capital projects is impoverishing the state.

    “You have simply shown  that you have no business in the business of governance.”

  • Kwara PDP factions reconcile

    Kwara PDP factions reconcile

    The two warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State have settled their differences.
    The party had been polarised into Freedom and Unity groups before and after the state congress three weeks ago. Federal Character Commission Chair Prof Abdulraheem Oba led the freedom group; Senator Gbemisola Saraki led the other group.
    The freedom group protested the results of the congress, alleging irregularities.
    A statement yesterday by the freedom group’s spokesperson, Tajudeen Kareem, said: “At a reconciliation meeting held in Abuja between the Chairman, Iyiola Oyedepo and the groups’ leaders, everyone resolved to bury their grievances and work together.
    “The meeting examined the lapses in the conduct of the congress and reviewed the roles played by elders and officials. It was resolved that party members should support the new executive members to build a durable party structure.
    “Oyedepo denied that he was sponsored by some vested interests. He said his candidature received the support of opinion leaders and political heavyweights in the state. He also promised to run a transparent, democratic and an inclusive administration.”

  • Foundation’s N10m lifts 108 in Kwara

    Foundation’s N10m lifts 108 in Kwara

    No fewer than 108 people in Kwara State have acquired various skills to help them lead better lives. They were trained at Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area. Soap-making was one the vocations in which the beneficiaries were tutored.
    The beneficiaries cut across four local government areas, namely Irepodun, Oke-Ero, Ekiti and Isin in Kwara South Senatorial District.
    The programme, which was organised by the Mike Omotosho Foundation, was attended by traditional rulers from the four local government areas.
    The Chairman of the foundation, Dr. Mike Omotosho who hails from Obbo Aiyegun, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, said the foundation expended over N10 million on the project.
    He said: “Real fulfilment comes from giving. The truth of the matter is that you don’t need to be extremely rich to give back to the society.
    “Starting from the beneficiaries, we do have 108 people including 22 officials that are either encouraging them to know what to do or train them on specific skill. We actually got about 1,000 applicants. We shortlisted 116 but 108 showed up.
    “It is a programme that we intend to continue to do, if possible on quarterly basis. But for now, it will be a biennial event. This means there would be another programme before the end of the year.  Over time we will be able to get people that have benefited from the programme to be facilitators in subsequent programmes.
    “In terms of monetary value, it is difficult say what the value is. Do we start from the feeding arrangement, or the transport subsidy of the micro-finance? There is going to be an empowerment programme of micro-finance loans for those that excelled among this group.
    “The number of those that excelled is between 25 and 30. In monetary terms, I am sure close to N10 million has been spent, but I can tell you the time value of the volunteers cannot be quantified. To a large extent, that was why I was reluctant in mentioning figures. People have left the comfort of their homes even during this Easter period to empower train those who will become useful to themselves, their communities and the country.
    “It is a pilot programme in which four local government areas have benefited from.”
    He blamed the current security challenges in some parts of the country on joblessness, adding that “once people are gainfully employed either working for themselves or for others, it becomes a lot easier for them to begin to think of how to touch lives.
    By extension, when people realise that security is part of their responsibilities, everybody will be his brother’s keeper. Security is everybody’s business.
    “Therefore, I urge the participants and youths outside there to exemplify leadership and appreciate the fact that they should impact on the lives of others.”
    In a remark, the Owalobo of Obbo Aiyegunle, Oba Samuel Adelodun said the programme is the first of its kind in the history of the state.
    The monarch said: “What we are witnessing today is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, given the growing incident of youth unemployment in the country. This is different because the week-long skills acquisition has focused on the youth. It is also different because God is using a Nigerian to empower our young unemployed graduates.
    “Politicians might have been doing that but they are not using their personal funds to finance this type of empowerment. This gesture smacks of humanitarianism for the less-privileged and the jobless in the society.”
    Oba Adelodun, a retired Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) likened skills acquisition programme to that of the NDE.
    Continuing, he said: “The programme of the NDE is a genuine attempt by the Federal Government of Nigeria to assist the youth to be self-reliant through skills acquisition.
    “When I was there, it was possible for NDE to identify 81 different fields for Nigerians to move and learn. Throughout my stint there, all the states of the federation benefited from this programme.
    “The difference now is that our youths seem not to take the programme seriously as they are looking for short-cuts to success because of the way we are living in Nigeria.
    “Nobody wants to work. We have not been able to encourage our youths to believe in their potential; to live within their means without necessarily having to look for short-cuts. As a result of the political environment in which we find ourselves, it has been possible for politicians to assist them temporarily for them to enjoy this short-cut approach to success.
    “After the tenure, the youth will go back to their old ways. What is important is that the NDE not only gives you money to start up something, but it also teaches you how to live a good life.”

  • Regulating outdoor advertising in Kwara

    The Kwara State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KWASSA) is out to ensure the aesthetics and beauty of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The agency is also determined to make money for the state government.

    The law establishing the agency which came into existence in 2010 was last year amended to align with the current global trends and standard practices.

    The law also prescribes that political parties, corporate bodies , individuals and religious organisations having outdoor structures to register with the agency.

    Accordingly, the agency has resolved to bare its fangs on all structures including billboards, banners and pasting of posters illegally mounted or pasted by political parties, body corporate and religious bodies in the state. In fact, all such structures are now to pay a certain fee.

    Also, the use of the Flyover bridge panels in the Post Office area of Ilorin, the state capital for pasting of banners will attract a sum of N6 million per annum.

    The state Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner, Kamaldeen Ajibade said KWASSA law regulates outdoor structures for the display of signage, hoarding and advertisement in the state.

    Ajibade said it is mandatory for any person or body corporate to register and obtain permit from the agency before erecting, constructing, enlarging or structurally modifying any outdoor structure.

    He urged all affected persons, groups, political parties; corporate entities and religious organisation in the state to remove all such structures with contravene this law.

    He said: “It has come to the attention of the state government that across the state there are many outdoor advertisement and signs without compliance with the provisions of the extant law on same, which is, KWASSA law.

    “Under the law, any corporate entity that owns outdoor structures must of necessity register same with the agency. The law empowers the agency to enter into any property or premises for the purposes of carrying out inspection necessary for the proper administration of the law.

    “Equally, owners and operators of existing outdoor structures are required to regularise their signage and advertisement structures with the agency and if not done within a period of one month after enactment of this law, the agency shall with or without notice as it deems fit, direct the removal of same at the expense of the owner.

    “It is important to stress here that any person who violates any of the provisions of the signage and advertisement law or does anything in order to stultify the application of the law or continue to be in breach of the law by displaying or permitting the display of unauthorised outdoor structures shall be guilty of an offence and liable to punishment (s) and sanctions provided under the law.

    “These include terms of imprisonment or fine or both. And of course, include demolition of the offensive structure (s) at the defaulter’s expenses.”

    The General Manager of KWASSA, Hammed Olufadi, remarked that: “A billboard for political party costs N1 million per year. Flying a banner costs N40,000 per week. The aim is to discourage unnecessary flying of banners. If you want to use ultra wave or you want to have your campaigns at the airport that is a specialised area, the amount payable is N2million for the purchase sheet. If you want maximum exposure you pay maximally also.

    “If you want to use our bridge panels you will need to pay N6million because we don’t want the panels to get dirty. If you want to even paste posters you are expected to come to us, we ask you the number of posters you intend to paste and we tell you where to paste them at a fee. Then you sign statement of responsibility with us irrespective of the political party. You pay before you expose your posters and then you deposit a penalty with us; 10 days after if the posters are not removed, we will do and the money deposited with us becomes that of the government.

    “So we have prices for normal zones and prices for specialised zones for different sizes of billboards and banners. If it is not properly regulated very soon people will start pasting posters on government house walls. Most of the posters are pasted at night. But we are making it clear now that we will not go after those pasting the posters, but those that own the posters.”

    Curiously, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has picked holes in the law, noting that giving teeth to the law this time around is a ploy against it.

  • Kwara to establish grazing reserves

    The Kwara State government announced yesterday that it will establish grazing reserves to stop incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    The government said it has identified the masterminds of last year’s clash between herdsmen and some villagers in Alapa, Asa Local Government Area.

    Commissioner for Information and Communications Tunji Moronfoye said this after the state’s executive council meeting.

    He said the names of five persons had been forwarded to the police for further investigation.

    Moronfoye said anyone found culpable will face the wrath of the law.

    “I want to make it clear that the administration of Abdulfatah Ahmed will not tolerate any infringement on the law.

    “We intend to keep the peace, keep Kwara as the State of Harmony, which it has always been.

    “We are going to get grazing reserve and there is going to be stock routes, which would be followed so that they don’t affect farms and produces, which will ensure food security.

    “The stock routes where these cows and live stocks will go through is going to be clearly defined and this grazing reserve would be established everywhere in Kwara State.”

  • Kwara evacuates students from Maiduguri

    Kwara evacuates students from Maiduguri

    Kwara State Commissioner for Information Tunji Moronfoye said yesterday the government would evacuate its indigenes from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

    He said a delegation left Ilorin for Maiduguri yesterday morning.

    The evacuation followed a save-our-soul message by Kwara students in the university.

    Moronfoye said the delegation was provided with logistics to enable it evacuate the students.

    The delegation and the students will arrive in Ilorin from today.

    The students, it was learnt, sent text messages to government officials, fearing for their safety, following massive attacks on Maiduguri last weekend.

    One of the text messages reads: “Maiduguri is under attack. We had 15 explosions this morning. We are picking bullets in the hostel. Please, we need your help. We need to be evacuated.

    “We, Kwara State students, are waiting for the rescue team. Please, help do all you can to save our lives.”

    The commissioner said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety and well being of its people.

    He said the government would implement such policies, without recourse to political affiliation.

    The commissioner added: “The people of Kwara voted us into power, so we have responsibility to ensure their well being.”

  • ‘How Kwara can win more laurels at Qu’ran contest’

    ‘How Kwara can win more laurels at Qu’ran contest’

    The Kwara State government has been urged to support its contingent to subsequent edition of the yearly Qur’anic Memorisation Competition to enable them perform better.

    Alhaji Abdulsalam Ayilara said in Ilorin, the state capital, that such support would boost the contingent’s morale.

    Ayilara urged the government to set up Quran memorisation centres with facilities as obtained in other northern states.

    He noted that the success of the state contingent’s to last year’s competition was due to prayers.

    He lamented the half-hearted support the committee has received from successive administrations over the years, adding that such support was incapable of winning any laurels at the just-concluded National Qur’an Memorisation Competition in Jigawa State.

    Speaking at the presentation of prizes to the contingent who won laurels at the competition, Ayilara said the committee “relied on Allah and prayers” for the representatives to excel at the competition, which Kaduna State won.

    He said: “The kind of support we get during our preparation for the competition cannot win laurels.”

    Ayilara, who donated an apartment of his house for camping of the participants, said that those who won laurels deserved better support from government and individuals.

    The state coordinator of the Qur’an recitation committee, Alhaji Waliullahi Kamal, regretted that the committee had not received attention it deserves since inception 28 years ago.

    He urged the government to redeem its pledge of an Arabic board.

    The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Abdulhamid Alabi said the participants had done the state proud despite the little support they received.

    In the memorisation of two-third of the Quran and two hizbs categories, two of the participants, Sodiq Atolagbe and Hajarat imam-Fulani from Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state took first and second positions respectively. Each won a Hyundai car.

    They are also to represent Nigeria at the International Quran Recitation Committee billed for October in Saudi Arabia, even as they will benefit from the scholarship scheme of the Jigawa State governor Alhaji Sule Lamido whose state hosted the competition.