Date: 2006-07-26

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DR ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCHING OF KWARA STATE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, UNITED KINGDOM BRANCH, ON SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2008.

Courtesies,

I consider it a rare honour and privilege to be part of this historic occasion of the official launching of Kwara State Association of Nigeria, United Kingdom Branch (KSANG). It is indeed a great honour for me because, since our administration came on board over half a decade ago, this is the second time that I would be privileged to address this august gathering of eminent citizens of Kwara State outside the shores of Nigeria for a special and unique occasion of this magnitude. 

Let me therefore seize this unique opportunity to congratulate the Chairman and members of this great Association for your foresight and bold initiative, which culminated in the conception and eventual birth of the noble union we are gathered here to launch. 

I want to acknowledge with all modesty that the large and impressive turnout of guests from our home State â€" Kwara is not by coincidence, but specifically designed to achieve three main objectives. Firstly, to convince you that back home, we operate with the spirit of oneness and unity of purpose. Secondly, to demonstrate that your Association enjoys the support, backing and indeed the blessings of the Government and people of Kwara State. Thirdly and most importantly, to express our solidarity with you on your marvelous achievement in the formation of this formidable Association, believing that as it bounces to life, it will progress with unsurpassed rapidity for the good of all. I, therefore, bring fraternal greetings to you from the Government and good people of Kwara State.

Distinguished audience, ladies and gentlemen, today’s occasion is a source of great joy to us, for it will help to showcase the rich and enormous human resources the State is blessed with both within and without. As a matter of fact, these abundant human and natural resources are not only sources of our strength but for which we can pride ourselves of in any part of the globe. In the past five years, we strived to harness these available resources to move the State forward among the comity of States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We are not oblivious of the fact that governance is all about service to the people, seen in the effective management of resources to meet the needs, aspirations, yearnings and demands of the people. We appreciate that our people are entangled in the vicious cycle of poverty. Therefore, those programmes that could easily make them move away from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and diseases appealed to our conscience and indeed enjoyed the priority attention of our Government. In this regard, therefore, projects in the areas of agriculture, water supply, education, housing, environment, health, information, massive roads rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, women empowerment, youth employment, industrial development, promotion of peace, as well as security of lives and property, among a host of others, were given a pride of place by our administration.

I am aware that distinguished members of this august gathering and particularly members of the Kwara State Association of Nigeria, United Kingdom Branch are anxious to know the journey so far particularly in delivering the dividends of democracy to all and sundry in Kwara State. Conscious of the fact that my address may not capture the details desired, key functionaries of the Government of Kwara State are in my delegation to do justice to this. In the course of the programme, they will bare their minds on the activities of the various establishments in the State, expose the gathering to the score card of the administration and avail members of relevant information about the State. However, this address will also attempt to give a synopsis of our achievements, problems and prospects of the State, since we came on board.

In the last five years, Agricultural sector witnessed an unprecedented revolution that is next to none in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is captured in the operations of the New Nigerian Farmers in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, who have virtually turned the State to the food basket of our dear nation. The project entails the development of an integrated farming community consisting of 14 distinct legal farming entities all managed by specialized farmers from Zimbabwe. It is strategically positioned to harness the farming opportunities of Kwara State, whilst establishing the State potentially as the leading agricultural economy in Nigeria and the West African Sub-region. Besides, the Malete Youth Farm, which is gradually coming to prominence, is the Kwara Sate Government’s initiative for creating a successor generation to the New Nigerian Farmers. It has trained scores of students since it commenced operations. Graduates of this centre had already been allocated farmlands with bank loans guaranteed by the state government to enable them stand on their own. As a complement to this effort, Ilorin Veterinary Clinic and Diagnostic Centre were set up with the state-of-the-art equipment for the treatment of livestock of both the local and the New Nigerian Farmers. Furthermore, National Fadama Development Project, Cocoa Development and Grazing Reserves were all put in place and effectively managed as poverty reduction initiative and to jump-start economic development of the State and by implication the Nation.

In similar vein, special attention was accorded the provision of potable water for both domestic and industrial uses. The programme of making available safe water for our rural and urban dwellers within the radius of 500 metres across the State as well as our target to increase water access to 80% of the State’s population are being pursued with vigour. The Education Sector also witnessed a boost as reflected in the maintenance of our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions through provision of new classrooms and rehabilitation of existing ones, provision of instructional materials and equipment, motivation of teachers, eradication of cultism and examination malpractices, to mention just a few. The proposed Kwara State University, which had remained on the drawing board for decades, is presently at a point of take-off. The Implementation Committee for the University is seriously working round the clock to ensure that academic programmes commence in earnest with a view to enhancing manpower development. 

It is expedient, perhaps, to mention that healthcare delivery services also attracted our attention. Various programmes to make both preventive and curative healthcare facilities accessible and affordable are being pursued with the desired determination. As at today, as a complement to our curative healthcare services, Ilorin is adjudged as the cleanest city in Nigeia. The same goes for other urban centres in the State. This is aside the fact that the Clean and Green programme provided employment for well over 3,000 people who hitherto, were without any productive means of livelihood.

Recognizing the essence of motorable roads as important indices of development, the State is witnessing massive roads rehabilitation, reconstruction and development that is unprecedented in her history. The intra and inter-city roads are given the desired facelift, while the rural roads also enjoy similar attention.

As a measure to remove the State from industrial doldrums, the Public-Private Partnership Programme (PPP) was and is still being promoted. Pursuant to this, many of the moribund industries in the State that were in the verge of total collapse such as Kwara Furniture now Ethnix Designs Limited and Erin-Ile Paper Coverters, among a host of others, were resuscitated, thus opening up windows of employment opportunities in the State. Besides, a new outfit like Aviation College is coming on board while the Kwara Football Academy is already on ground under this policy. The State also floats one of the most promising and attractive industrial policies with due emphasis on massive development of industrial zone like the 515 hectares Free Trade Zone around Eiyenkorin area of Ilorin, as well as issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) on industrial plots within a reasonable time frame. Government also provided industrial infrastructure to encourage private sector involvement in strategic industries that will stimulate commercial activities, thus encouraging the establishment of agro-allied and relevant cottage industries, such as Ogbondoroko Cashew nut processing factory and Ethnix Designs Limited.

As if these were not enough, we are not unaware of the essence of peace as a necessary condition for rapid socio-economic development. We are aware that it is only in an atmosphere of peace and security that investments can thrive. Pursuant to the sustenance of peace in the State, our people are constantly subjected to massive re-orientation, while needful assistance was accorded the Security Agencies in the State to strengthen their hold and ensure that the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the State was is not disrupted. Besides, we hold in high esteem the guiding principles of prudence, transparency and accountability in the handling of Government business. We established the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit (BMPIU) to curtail the excesses and wastages inherent in past administrations. This unit monitors execution of state budget in line with due process and scrutinizes all government quotations before purchases are made. 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this synopsis is to showcase our modest achievements in the State and to let you know that we are concerned about her rapid socio-economic development. The highlight given in this address is merely a tip of the iceberg. As the other members of my entourage unfold our modest achievements in different sectors, you will be convinced that Kwara State has indeed come of age and has become a beaming light in the Nigerian Nation.

In spite of the fact that we have gone this far, we appreciate that the utopian of our dream is yet to be achieved. We therefore constantly wave the olive branch to philanthropists, well-wishers and friends of the State to give us the needful backing and support. This is because we are not oblivious of the fact that in the recent past, Kwara State is solely a civil service State. With firms like Dangote, Tuyil Phamaceuticals Limited, among a host of others, having their firm root in the State, Kwara is gradually coming on stream.

Let me acknowledge with deep sense of gratitude that KSANG has, on several occasions demonstrated its love, interest, goodwill and patriotism towards the State. Today’s programme bears eloquent testimony to this. While recognizing your unalloyed support to our collective heritage, I urge you to evolve more consistent and pragmatic strategies to partner with the State Government so that our development goals could be realized much sooner than later. In this regard, therefore, I call on you to join us to invest your human and capital resources in Kwara State and attract more foreign investors to the State. We appreciate that this will entail a lot of sacrifice from you but I assure you that it is in the overall interest of the State. I urge you collectively join us in building a lasting foundation for tomorrow and a sound future for our children.

Distinguished Kwarans, ladies and gentlemen, once again, I thank you most sincerely, for extending your invitation to me and members of my entourage. It is my hope that the launch of Kwara State Association of Nigeria, United Kingdom Branch will mark the beginning of many good things to happen in Kwara State, the home of peace, harmony and hospitality before our very eyes.

I thank you for your attention and wish you a happy and successful deliberation.

Thank you all and God bless.