The Kwara State Government is to engage 5,000 youths across the state in its empowerment and employment initiative through public workforce participation, Conditional Cash Transfer as well as skill acquisition in collaboration with the World Bank.

The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed this in Ilorin on Wednesday while presenting the 2015 budget before the state House of Assembly. He further disclosed government's intention to maintain the existing 5200 participants of the Quickwin intervention.

He said the state government would also engage additional 319 participants in these schemes in the 2015 financial year.

The move, according to the governor was in line with his administration's commitment to reduce the level of poverty in the state through the provision of empowerment and employment initiatives for the youths.

On agricultural development, the governor said the sum of N2.243 billion has been allocated for agricultural programme which include the Construction of Kwara Modern Agricultural Analytical Laboratory; Off-Taker Demand Driven Agriculture Scheme where 160 farmers will benefit from a loan arrangement to graduate from subsistence farming to commercial farming and rehabilitation of six primary Animal Health and Public Health Centers in each senatorial district to ensure proper hygiene and service delivery.

He described roads infrastructure as one of the key priority areas of his administration, adding that his government had continued to ensure the provision of good quality, standard road infrastructures in the state.

"A total sum of Four billion, Seven hundred and sixty-four million, Six hundred and ninety-nine thousand, Five hundred and forty-one will be expended on works and transport sector in 2015 financial year. Efforts will be geared towards the completion of the on-going road projects embarked upon by this administration.

Part of the road projects to be executed in 2015 financial year according to the governor include 62 kilometer Kaiama-Kishi road in Kaiama LGA; 32.8 kilometer Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara road Phase I in Baruten LGA; 17 kilometer Arobadi-Maigida road in Moro LGA and7.5 kilometer Egbejila-Asa Dam road in Ilorin West LGA Others are 2.65 Kilometer Oke-Opin township road in Ekiti LGA; 1.2 kilometer Old Garage Central Mosque Road, Lafiagi in Edu LGA and 1 kilometer Ogbondoroko township road in Asa LGA.He further mentioned 5 kilometer Elere junction-Owode Oja road in Asa LGA;36 kilometer Shinawu-Gankodun-Kenu road in Baruten LGA; 1.9 kilometer Kusogi water works road in Edu LGA; 6 kilometer Igbaja township road in Ifelodun LGA;1.2 kilometer Okemale-Igbo-Ogo road, Osi in Ekiti LGA; 1.5 kilometer Oke-Oyi township road in Ilorin East LGA and 0.80 kilometer Asunara road in Ilorin South LGA as some of the rural roads to be executed in 2015 financial year.

He promised to renovate the two modern fire stations at Bode Saadu and Omu-Aran in Moro and Irepodun LGAs respectively in 2015 financial year.

Other major areas of his focus in the 2015 financial year he said include energy, commerce and cooperatives, environmental protection, housing and community amenities, water supply, health, education, recreation and culture, social protection as well as public order and safety.