• As Stakeholders Hail Govt, List Their Other Demands

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Citizens’ Engagement programme for the year 2027 budget has come to a glorious end in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, serving as a platform for the people of Kwara Central Senatorial District to air their views and present their requests in the next fiscal year.

The townhall meeting started on 1st September in Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area for Kwara Southerners, after which the Northerners had their turn in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state.

Tuesday’s session, like before, was attended by senior government officials and key stakeholders, such as Local Council Chairmen, top bureaucrats, community and religious leaders, representatives of the civil society groups, development partners, women and youth groups, persons living with disabilities, and the media.

The traditional chiefs were present in their large numbers, including the Magaji Are of Ilorin, Alhaji Aremu Zubair; Balogun Alanamu, Dr Usman Abubakar Atolagbe Jos; Baba Isale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi Sidiq; Balogun Baare Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad and Magaji Esinrogunjo who is the Chairman for Magajis and Alanguas Forum in Ilorin Emirate, and Alhaji Isiaka Amoda Ojulari, among others.

Addressing participants, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the open budget process was part of his campaign promises that sought to rebuild public confidence in government, restore infrastructure, improve public service delivery, and place the welfare of Kwarans at the centre of governance.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr Mary Arinde, said the administration has continued to engage the citizens and various stakeholders across communities to hear directly from them where the shoe pinches with a view to improving their living conditions.

AbdulRazaq touted his giant strides in critical infrastructure and capital projects that cut across the state, and assured that the 2027 budget offers another opportunity to consolidate the gains of his administration.

“Since the inception of this administration, we have maintained that a budget should never be a mere administrative routine or a closed-door exercise. Governance belongs to the people, and for any fiscal plan to deliver meaningful impact, it must directly reflect the life experiences, priorities, and voices of our citizens across the state,” the Governor said.

“Our administration remains committed to building a state where no community is left behind and where development reaches every corner of Kwara.

“Our urban renewal initiatives have transformed the landscape of llorin and other major towns. Landmark projects, including the construction and rehabilitation of township roads, Kwara Hotels, Innovation Hub Civil Service Clinic, International Conference Centre, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service office, Finance House, and other several strategic road networks, which have improved traffic flow, enhanced safety, and boosted commercial activities.”

On his part, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof Mamman Saba Jubril, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary General Service, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Shuaib, said the event was not just another meeting but a testament to the collective resolve to deepen democracy and strengthen participatory governance in Kwara State.

“Notably, we are here today because governance is not a one-way street approach. It thrives when the government listens to its people, engages with them, and incorporates their voices into the policies and programmes of the administration that will shape the life of the citizens,” he said.

Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development and a native of Ilorin West LGA, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, while praising the developmental drives of the administration, appealed for interlocking of more communities within the city.

He also requested the government to renovate mini-palaces of some traditional chiefs in the Ilorin Emirate and install solar lights for markets within his local government area.

Former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Afeez Abolore, who hails from Ilorin East, applauded the Governor for the infrastructural development across the nooks and crannies of the state, noting that the autonomy of local government has been operational and effective in the state.

Director of Personnel, Finance and Supply in the Ministry of Planning, Hajia Madinat Ajao, who read the Commissioner’s address, said the programme clearly demonstrated the unwavering commitment of the Governor AbdulRazaq to transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.

“Since assuming office, this administration has institutionalized participatory budgeting, ensuring that the voices of citizens remain central to government planning and resource allocation”, she said.

Vice Chairman of Asa Local Government Area, Hon Rasidat Issa;
Vice Chairman of Ilorin South LGA, Hon Mary Joel; Hon Abdulraheem Nafisat Sauta (Vice Chairman of Ilorin East), and Director Personnel Management in Ilorin West Local Government, Alhaji Hussain Sabi Saidu, in their separate remarks, appreciated the state government’s developmental projects in their respective local governments and appealed for more, especially in the area of road construction and rehabilitation.

Other stakeholders and community leaders, who spoke at the event, such as National President, Reke Community, Engr Surajeen Olaiya, Alhaji Salami Jimoh from Asa LGA, Mallam Abdulazeez Omoola from Ilorin South LGA, Mallam Garba Alao from Ilorin East LGA, Hon Maruf Onibanoje from Ilorin West and Mallam Yusuf Aderemi, took turns to appreciate the government’s presence in their respective areas, soliciting for more developmental projects in the year 2027 appropriation.

Alhaji Samsudeen Aregbe, Director of Budget, in his presentation, said the government achieved 93.5% budget performance in 2025, calling it a good development for the state.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has inaugurated a Joint Management Committee to oversee the coexistence of the duo of the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Ilorin, and the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

The committee was inaugurated at the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Ilorin, with a charge to ensure harmonious relations and effective management and utilisation of resources and facilities shared by the two institutions.

The committee comprises three representatives each from KWASUED and the College of Education, as well as one representative of the Ministry of Tertiary Education.

Representing KWASUED are Prof. Ganiyu Bello, Dr. Bello Okanla Fatai and Dr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Yetunde Olanrewaju, while the College of Education is represented by Mr. Akanbi O. Ayodele, Mr. Lawal L.O. and Mr. Jiyah S.J. The ministry is represented by Mallam Aliyu Abdulsalam.

Inaugurating the committee, the Supervising Commissioner for the Ministry of Tertiary Education and Commissioner for Education and Human Capital, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, charged members to ensure that the coexistence arrangement produces tangible results and does not become a mere administrative exercise.

He urged the committee to maintain a harmonious relationship between the two institutions, particularly in the management and utilisation of resources and facilities within the premises of the College of Education.

Dr. Olohungbebe said the government expected impact from the committee rather than just its inauguration, noting that every institution had to start from somewhere before eventually moving to its permanent location.

He reminded members that they understood their respective institutions better than anyone else and were therefore well positioned to develop workable solutions to challenges that might arise in the course of the coexistence arrangement.

According to him, the establishment of KWASUED was not intended to take jobs away from workers at the College of Education but to create additional employment opportunities in the state.

He added that the government was working towards developing KWASUED’s permanent site, after which the university would relocate to the permanent location.

Dr. Olohungbebe also reassured both institutions that KWASUED had come to stay, while the College of Education would equally continue to operate, stressing that the government was committed to ensuring the smooth running of both institutions.

He urged members of the committee to work together and produce practical and implementable recommendations that would guide the ministry in managing the relationship between the two institutions.

Earlier, in his welcome speech, the Director of Continuing Education, Dr. Sunday Akanbi, said the inauguration represented an important step towards establishing a structured relationship between the two institutions and ensuring that the presence of KWASUED and the College of Education within the same environment did not become a source of unnecessary friction.

He stressed the importance of cooperation, mutual understanding and effective communication between the managements of both institutions, particularly in the areas of facility use and day-to-day operations.

The director expressed confidence that the committee, comprising representatives of the two institutions and the ministry, would provide a platform for addressing issues as they arise and developing solutions that would be beneficial to both institutions.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated committee, Prof. Ganiyu Bello expressed the members’ readiness to take up the responsibility and ensure that the coexistence arrangement succeeds.

Prof. Bello said the committee had accepted the assignment and would do everything possible to achieve its objectives.

He noted that teacher education had recorded progressive growth in Kwara State, adding that the state had established a strong reputation for the training of teachers.

He assured that the committee would work to ensure continued progress in education and teacher training in the state.

The inauguration followed the recommendation of the Committee on the Blueprint for the Coexistence of the Kwara State University of Education and the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

The earlier committee was constituted by the Kwara State Government to develop a framework for the peaceful and effective coexistence of the two institutions, particularly during the transitional period before the development of KWASUED’s permanent site.

Among its recommendations was the establishment of a Joint Management Committee to coordinate the coexistence of the institutions, facilitate the sharing and utilisation of facilities, address transitional challenges and promote harmonious relations.

The inauguration of the new committee therefore marks the commencement of a formal mechanism for managing the relationship between KWASUED and the College of Education as both institutions continue to pursue their respective mandates.

The committee is expected to submit workable recommendations to the Ministry of Tertiary Education to guide the implementation of the coexistence arrangement and ensure that both institutions continue to contribute to the development of teacher education in Kwara State.

• As AbdulRazaq’s family pays thank you visit to monarch

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s delegation, comprising family members, top government officials and APC chieftains, has paid a ‘thank you’ visit to the Palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (CFR) on Tuesday over his recent turbaning as the Sardauna of Ilorin.

Led by the Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, the Governor’s elder brother, the delegation was peopled by Alangua Adewole, Alhaji Yusuf Yakubu, elder sister to the Governor, Senator Khairat AbdulRazaq Gwadabe, former First Lady of Kwara State and younger sister to the Governor, Hajia Aisha Mohammed Lawal, Dr Funsho AbdulRazaq, members of the State House of Assembly, led by the House Leader, Barr. Oba Magaji, Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah, and some elders of the party.

Speaking at the Palace, the Emir, Dr Sulu-Gambari, who was excited by the large turnout, said the choice of Governor AbdulRazaq as another title-holder in the same family rather reflects his depth of gratitude to their parents, who he explained played important roles in his life.

He said both the titles of Mutawali and Sardauna that he graciously conferred on the two brothers, Dr Alimi and Gov AbdulRazaq, are a payback for the good deeds of their parents and their own individual goodwill.

Describing the Governor’s father, late AGF AbdulRazaq (SAN), as one of his only two father-figures, the revered monarch said the Abdulrazaqs share a long standing ties and goodwill with the royal family that he cannot forget in a hurry.

“One of my two father figures is late Mutawali of Ilorin (the Governor’s father). He stood by the family after the death of our father and his friend. Talking about Mamaa, the Governor’s mother, she was the one who chaired the organising committee for my Coronation as Ciroma of Ilorin and my wedding ceremony which we held in 1984. For this and other reasons, I am the one who is indebted to show your family a gratitude,” the Emir said.

“Governor AbdulRazaq is a lucky and befitting leader. His coming on board has answered our earnest prayers for good fortune. He has turned around Ilorin and indeed the entire Kwara. This is an indisputable fact.”

Dr Sulu-Gambari, who praised the Governor for his leadership qualities and for being a good ambassador of the Emirate, prayed to Allah to continue to give him the needed strength and wisdom to succeed in office, including as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Addressing reporters on the sideline of the visit, Dr AbdulRazaq said they are overwhelmed by the honour bestowed on their brother, for which he thanked the Emir, promising that both the recipent and indeed the family will not “shirk the responsibility to deliver the expectations of the honour”.

“The essence of this visit today is to thank his royal highness, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, for the honour (Sardauna of Ilorin) bestowed upon his Excellency, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Governor of Kwara State. We, the entire family, along with the entire Ilorin community, have come to pay our respects to him, to express our sincere gratitude for the honour bestowed upon us,” he said.

Hajia Aisha Lawal, who appreciated the royal father, said the Governor merits the title he was conferred with, given his outstanding contributions to the development of Ilorin Emirate and beyond.

“The comment made by the Emir on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq shows that the Emir has seen the great things that His Excellency has done in Ilorin and in Kwara, and in the whole of Nigeria,” she said.

“As the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he has done tremendously well and represented Ilorin community and Kwara very well. What he has done in Ilorin is amazing.”

Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor and Chairman Central Planning and Coordination Committee for the Turbaning Ceremony, Alhaji Saadu Salau, said the Emir is always proud of the footprint of the administration, calling Governor AbdulRazaq a role model.

“The message is simple, that you must learn from the example of those who are role models. A lot has been said about Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as a role model in leadership. It is for the younger generation to learn from his simplicity, his patrotism, his love for the commoners, and his selfless service,” he said.