Kwara governor highlights achievements so far across LGAs, wards

By Mosunmola Ayobami,Ilorin

Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has asserted that his administration’s impact is evident in all 193 wards and 16 local government areas across the state.

Speaking during the grand finale of the 2024 Press Week celebration organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin on Thursday night, the governor emphasized the significant developments his government has brought about in the last five years.

Governor Abdulrazaq, represented by his Special Adviser and Counselor, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, outlined key achievements including the renovation of over 600 schools, extensive urban renewal projects, and massive road construction across the state.

He also highlighted the payment of N750 million in salary arrears to staff at the state’s three colleges of education, the recruitment of new teachers, and the payment of over N14 billion in UBEC counterpart funds. In addition, he noted the eradication of polio within the first six months of his administration as a major milestone.

The governor assured that his administration would continue to collaborate with journalists to further the state’s development. Salahudeen praised the government’s efforts in creating a more conducive environment for journalists to operate, citing the repositioning of state-owned media establishments—The Herald, Radio Kwara, and Kwara TV—as significant achievements.

The event’s guest lecturer, Senator Sadiq Umar, who represents Kwara North Senatorial District, delivered a paper titled “Democracy, Good Governance and Roles of Citizens.” Represented by Dr. Abdulrasheed Sadudeen, the senator stressed the importance of active citizen participation in the political process to ensure good governance.

“For democracy to flourish, citizens must actively participate, hold their leaders accountable, and advocate for transparency and fairness,” he said.

In his keynote address, Professor Lukman Azeez, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Ilorin, represented by Mrs. Oluwakemi Akerele, urged journalists to strengthen their role in investigative journalism to hold the government accountable.

Commissioner for Communication, Mrs. Bola Olukoju, also addressed the gathering, urging media practitioners to uphold the tenets of their profession. “Let’s stand for the truth. If you are in doubt about your stories, we have a channel of communication in Kwara State. Always reach out to us to verify your stories,” she advised.

The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Garba, expressed concern over recent attacks and arrests of journalists during the #EndBadGovernance protests and other assignments. He called on the National Assembly to enact a law that would criminalize attacks on journalists in the course of their duties.