Date: 2008-09-17

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DR ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE AT THE FLAGGING OFF CEREMONY AND DISTRIBUTION OF EMPOWERMENT ITEMS BY ILORIN WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BENEFICIARIES AT THE KWARA STATE STADIUM COMPLEX ON WEDNESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2008.


Courtesies,


In early February this year, Youth Employment Coordinators were appointed for the 16 Local Government Areas of the State to among other things; collate a data of all unemployed youths in the Councils with a view to arresting the high rate of unemployment prevalent among our youths. The intention was to identify areas of peculiarities of the unemployed youths which could be explored in tackling the unemployment status of the state. Reports reaching me since then have indicated that the task before the Youth Coordinates is beginning to yield some good dividends, which eventually culminates in the event of today.

Having said this, I am highly delighted to welcome you all to this important occasion of the official flag-off and distribution of empowerment items and cheques to the first batch of beneficiaries of Ilorin West Local Government Youth Empowerment Scheme. I must say that I am particularly happy that this programme is being flagged off first by Ilorin West Local Government being the pace setter in the State.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you will all recall that youth empowerment forms part of our electioneering campaign promises made to our people while we were going round the 16 Local Government Areas to request for your mandate for a second term in office. The outcome of this effort has resulted in today’s ceremony in which about 861 youths from this Local Government would be empowered with various items ranging from Taxi Cabs, Photocopiers and Computer Sets, Deep Freezers and Soft Drinks, Video Recorders and presentation of cheques to enhance their well-being in the society.

Let me emphasize here that Local Government as the third tier of government is generally viewed as an instrument of rural development. This is because it is this level of government that people identifies as the closest to the grassroots. Armed with this believe, the State Government decided to assist the Local Government to improve the condition of living of its people bearing in mind that majority of the people are resident in the rural areas, hence the attention of our administration on the Local Government. Besides, the State/Local Government Joint Account which we pioneered had assisted our Local Governments to embark on various developmental projects in their localities without unduly relying on their statutory allocations.

On this note, I wish to commend Ilorin West Local Government for taking this bold step towards alleviating poverty among its people and also congratulate both the chairman and the Youth Coordinator for initiating this lofty programme.

I appeal to all the lucky beneficiaries of this empowerment scheme to assist the council to make it work. Make the best use of this opportunity to contribute your quota in return to the growth of the economy of this state.

As you are already aware that the scheme is a revolving one, you will be assisting your council by adhering strictly to the repayment schedule so that others who are also interested can benefit when the scheme is recycled.

Let me also advise other Local Governments yet to initiate this type of programme to take a cue from Ilorin West and do something in their Councils. It is in the overall interest of the people of the State since the burden of development can not be entirely bore by the State Government.

With these few remarks, distinguished audience, ladies and gentlemen, I have the singular honour and privilege to flag-off the distribution of empowerment items and cheques by Ilorin West Local Government to all the beneficiaries of this scheme, to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind.

Thank you all and God bless.